The Milwaukee Bucks made a decision out of the blue regarding one of their two-way players on the first day of March.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Bucks have waived Sandro Mamukelashvili, who was the 54th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski chimed in to add that the Bucks worked with Mamukelashvili’s representation to help the 23-year-old with his future opportunities. Given how veteran-oriented Milwaukee’s roster is, a youngster like Mamukelashvili had a tough time finding minutes A release will allow him to pursue other opportunities where the big man may find a legitimate shot at playing time.
Reaction to the Milwaukee Bucks suddenly waiving Sandro Mamukelashvili
This news is certainly surprising. Though the Bucks will have some decisions to make with their roster in the coming weeks, this was not one of them. It came out of left field, leaving the Bucks with some questions to answer. First and foremost, was this more about letting Mamukelashvili pursue other opportunities, or does the front office have another possible two-way target in mind they needed to make room for? Those answers will come soon.
As highlighted above, minutes were scarce for Mamukelashvili this season. He’d see time every now and then, but nothing consistently. When he did play, the big man showed signs that he has the potential to be a solid rebounder and scorer. Following this move, he will now have a chance to showcase those talents on a larger scale. Perhaps he could follow a similar path as Jordan Nwora, who was traded by the Bucks at the deadline and has played the best ball of his career since.
Looking at the current market, there are some interesting names the Bucks could pursue with this open two-way slot. Staying in-house, both Lindell Wigginton and Iverson Molinar, who both play for the Wisconsin Herd, could be compelling options as the Bucks look to add another piece to the backcourt. If they want another wing, Alex Antetokounmpo, the brother of Giannis and Thanasis, also plays for the Herd. The Bucks will not be limited to signing players from the Herd, but they have promoted their in-house talent before, notably with Rayjon Tucker last season.
Best of luck moving forward, Sandro!