According to reports, the Milwaukee Bucks will be converting Sean Kilpatrick‘s two-way contract to an NBA contract and in the process of doing so will be waiving big man Joel Bolomboy.
After a day-and-a-half of making roster moves, we’ve hit the strangest turn in the roster turnover that’s currently ongoing for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Hours after confirming the move to sign Xavier Munford to a two-way contract as well as signing Joel Bolomboy to an NBA contract with the open roster spot created by waiving DeAndre Liggins, Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports reported the Bucks have different plans in mind.
According to Charania, in a report which was later confirmed by Matt Vealzquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Bucks will be waiving Bolomboy and will sign current two-way player Sean Kilpatrick to a full NBA deal with the roster spot that was occupied by Bolomboy.
Sources: The Bucks are signing guard Sean Kilpatrick to a full NBA deal for rest of season, converting his two-way contract. Milwaukee waived Joel Bolomboy to create open spot.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 7, 2018
Can confirm the @ShamsCharania report that the Bucks are planning to release Joel Bolomboy and sign Sean Kilpatrick to an NBA contract, leaving an open two-way that can be filled before Jan. 15. Order of today's events came as part of a strategic plan by Bucks, source says.
— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) January 7, 2018
Velazquez tipped off the intrigue following the announcement of Bolomboy’s signing earlier on Sunday afternoon by relaying that the Bucks were angling to make another move with their roster.
Bucks waive Liggins, put Bolomboy on NBA contract and elevate Munford to two-way. Roster full at 15 NBA players & 2 two-ways. This roster configuration may not last long. Hearing MKE may make another move—not a trade—today. Latest for the @journalsentinel: https://t.co/f3C26yuFxA
— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) January 7, 2018
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As confusing as this all looks to every Bucks fan out there, it appears to be a move designed to keep Bolomboy with the organization.
With his 45 days nearing completion as well as the guarantee date for all two-way contracts around the league looming, the Bucks are clearly circumventing the rules to have Bolomboy go through NBA waivers, rather than two-way waivers where he would have likely been a bigger commodity on the open market.
This is spelled out clearly in 2 Ways & 10 Days’ G League FAQ, written by co-founder and recently retired blogger Chris Reichert:
"“When a player is called up to the NBA their G League team retains their player rights for the duration of the current season and the two following seasons. If that played is waived, they must return to their G League team.”"
By waiving Bolomboy and the NBA contract that he technically signed, the Bucks are betting on Bolomboy clearing NBA waivers and working with him to continue being a part of the organization with the Herd, as Velazquez tweeted after the initial shock of the move.
Kind of convoluted, but as far as I can reckon it seems this could help Bolomboy possibly return to the Wisconsin Herd if he's not grabbed by another NBA team for an NBA contract or two-way. https://t.co/5sMokBfBns
— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) January 7, 2018
Related Story: Wisconsin Herd lose to Windy City Bulls in spite of third quarter comeback
The other side of this move, of course, is that we’ll be seeing Kilpatrick around much longer and now on an NBA roster spot basis since his two-way contract has now been converted to a guaranteed NBA deal (how long that deals stands, remains to be seen).
Since the Bucks brought him over two weeks ago, the 28-year-old Kilpatrick is averaging 5.2 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field and 4-of-11 shooting from three in nine minutes across five appearances. How he’ll be utilized from here on out remains to be seen, but there’s no question that his three-point shooting and overall offensive skills will be of some help to the Bucks’ second unit.
And finally, to leave another thread of roster spot intrigue, the Bucks have one of their two-way contract slots now open after this round of roster spot musical chairs.
So to recap: after signing him to an NBA contract, the Bucks will reportedly be waiving Bolomboy and signing Kilpatrick to the spot Bolomboy was occupying while hoping to retain Bolomboy’s services to keep him with the Herd as he’ll clear NBA waivers, not two-way waivers.
Next: Milwaukee Bucks: Don’t be surprised by John Henson’s re-emergence
Got it? Good. I’m now going to go lie down for a little bit.