Milwaukee Bucks waive Cam Thomas, sign Pete Nance to guaranteed contract
· Yahoo Sports
INGLEWOOD, CA – Hours before Milwaukee Bucks forward Pete Nance would have been active for his 50th and final game under his two-way contract signed at the start of the season, the team instead converted him to a fully guaranteed deal before taking on the Los Angeles Clippers on March 23.
That means Nance is available for the remaining 12 games of the season and is under contract for the 2026-27 season as well.
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Speaking after the Bucks' shootaround earlier on March 23, Nance said, “It would mean everything" to get a standard deal.
"I think that’s the dream," he continued. "I think coming in this league I just was an [Exhibit 10] and played in the G League a ton, and that’s obviously what I would come to the gym every day thinking about and working for, so being able to take that step would be amazing. But it would just make me hungry for even more and shows me that what I want and what I can think of and dream of is possible. So, just pushing towards more.”
To make room for him on the roster, the Bucks waived guard Cam Thomas. Thomas signed as a free agent Feb. 8. He played in 18 games and averaged 10.7 points per game.
"I thought Cam was really good overall and maybe somebody we revisit," Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said before the Clippers game. "Just where we're at right now, you know, not really in the [playoff] hunt as when we signed him, we thought it was the right thing to do for the rest of the guys."
He had recently returned to the rotation in Utah on March 19 after recording consecutive DNP-CDs (did not play, coach’s decision) March 15-17 after being benched following just three minutes of action in Atlanta on March 14.
"There are things we don't need to talk about," Rivers said. "That's not anybody's business. Like I said before, that's where as a coach you have to make decisions on what's best for the team at that time. People don't understand that. They start talking about other stuff. And, that's not for anyone to know."
Nance had signed two-way deals in Cleveland (2023-24) and Philadelphia (2024-25) but never played in more than 13 regular season games. He also played in six games for the Bucks on a two-way contract last season.
“To be able to be in this spot is just awesome,” Nance said after the Bucks’ shootaround. “Obviously I’m super thankful for the Bucks for giving me the opportunity. I think it’s just a testament to growth and the work that I’ve done and the experience that I’ve had over the years.”
Under his two-way deal, Nance played 37 games, did not play in 12 and had been inactive for 21 during his two-way deal this season. Heading into the game against the Clippers, the 26-year-old shot 47.9% from behind the 3-point line and 56% overall in about 12 minutes per game. All are career highs, and Nance credited Rivers with giving him a real chance to earn playing time.
"He deserved it," Rivers said of Nance's new contract. "Pete's one of those guys that will help any basketball team, not only on the floor but in the locker room."
As for Thomas departing, Nance, who has been waived several times in his career, understood the difficulty of the business side of the NBA and such roster decisions.
“I think it’s tough,” Nance said. “It’s a business and it’s a brutal one. I’ve been on that side, where you’re the guy that’s out of there. I love every one of these guys on this team, so I have no idea what’s gonna happen or who it’s gonna be but just trying to focus on the situation and the stuff that has to do with me and just trying to be as excited about that as possible.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Bucks waive Cam Thomas, sign Pete Nance to guaranteed deal