Milwaukee Bucks to reportedly add Xavier Munford on two-way deal
According to reports late on Saturday night, the Milwaukee Bucks will be adding guard Xavier Munford on a two-way contract.
The roster moves keep on coming and coming for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Following reports that they will be waiving journeyman DeAndre Liggins, the Bucks will be adding guard and current standout player for the Wisconsin Herd, Xavier Munford, on a two-way contract, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.
Sources: Milwaukee is signing guard Xavier Munford of G League's Wisconsin on a two-way NBA contract. Munford has averaged 24 points for Bucks' affiliate.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 7, 2018
Not long after Charania’s report, as well as after the Bucks’ game against the Washington Wizards, Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel not only confirmed the news of Munford being brought in on a two-way deal, but clarified the stakes as well as the timeline at hand with the move, considering the Bucks currently still have their two-way slots filled up by both Joel Bolomboy and Sean Kilpatrick.
Per league source, the Bucks are moving Xavier Munford up from the Wisconsin Herd to a two-way contract. Joel Bolomboy & Sean Kilpatrick both are on two-way deals now, which means one of them will need to be moved off their two-way — to Bucks roster or waived — to make this work.
— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) January 7, 2018
When it comes to the Bucks, Liggins and Munford, none of those moves have become official yet. There be a bunch of transactions/decisions coming Sunday.
— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) January 7, 2018
Regardless, this marks good news for not only the 25-year-old Munford, but the Bucks organization as a whole as they will be keeping a player who seemingly could have become a hot commodity with 10-day deals now available at NBA teams’ disposal.
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Of course, Munford has been showing out while in Oshkosh as a member of the Herd this season.
In 20 total appearances with the Herd this year, Munford is averaging 24.1 points on shooting splits of .525/.476/.744, as well as 5.4 assists and 4.9 rebounds.
Munford’s brilliant play so far this year has eclipsed traditional stats as he’s delivered big moments in the club’s inaugural season, the biggest example being him knocking down a buzzer-beating three pointer at end of the Herd’s first ever game to take home a dizzying victory against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on November 6.
As a result, Munford’s leading contributions have been recognized by the G League as he earned player of the week honors in the first week of the season as well as getting a much deserved call-up to Team USA to participate in FIBA World Cup Qualifying in late November.
On that front, the Bucks’ move to lock down Munford with one of their two-way slots will affect his availability in further being a part of Team USA for future qualifying, according to Adam Johnson of 2 Ways & 10 Days.
Milwaukee locking it in is smart for them. Munford highly sought after. Wrinkle with two-ways, this may also impact whether or not he joins USA Basketball in Feb.
— Jawnzun (@jawnzun) January 7, 2018
Players on two-way deals not eligible to participate. https://t.co/uvxy6sEHxx
While it’s a tough price to pay on Munford’s part, the ability to get closer to his goal of getting another shot in the NBA is a nice tradeoff. Likewise for the Bucks, who having seen another one of the Herd’s standout contributors in James Young get swooped up by the Philadelphia 76ers days earlier, get to keep a player who holds NBA aspirations in Munford around longer.
Perhaps that indirectly played a part in the front office’s thinking to act fast in committing to the undrafted Rhode Island product, even before they have cleared either one of the two-way contract slots that are still being occupied by both Bolomboy and Kilpatrick at the time of this writing.
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Nonetheless, it’s good news for anyone who has been diligently following the Herd this year and seeing the Bucks recognize the kind of talent Munford possesses and the consistent flashes of brilliance he’s shown while playing just up the road only a couple of hours away.