Grading Andre Jackson Jr.’s deal and overall fit with the Milwaukee Bucks
By Dalton Sell
In a surprise deal with the Orlando Magic, the Milwaukee Bucks traded up to select young wing Andre Jackson Jr. in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Given Milwaukee’s need for more youth and wings, the addition of Jackson was easy to justify. Many think the wing has a bright future with the Bucks, and that could very well be true under new Head Coach Adrian Griffin. With that said, let us get into the deal itself and break it down.
The financial aspect of Andre Jackson Jr.’s deal with the Milwaukee Bucks and what it took to get him
Considering that he’s a second round pick, Jackson’s deal will not cost the Bucks a ton in the grand scheme of things. Per Spotrac, his deal with the Bucks is worth $7.6 million over four years, which is standard procedure in contracts like this. While the deal is fully guaranteed in year one, it’s only partially guaranteed for year two and non-guaranteed for years three and four.
There’s very little to complain about in that regard, and if Jackson ends up playing a legitimate role for Milwaukee this coming season, that contract could become a steal very quickly. It would be a huge boost if the Bucks could get real production out of a draft pick who is on the books for cheap.
As for what they gave up to get Jackson, Milwaukee traded away a 2030 second rounder and $2.5 million in cash, per The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski. That’s excellent maneuvering by General Manager Jon Horst to get the Bucks another pick in this draft over 20 spots higher than their original pick, which was 58th (they used that to select Chris Livingston). The Bucks have been giving away their second rounders like they’re candy lately, but it’s beyond reasonable to trade a pick seven years down the line to get a piece like Jackson right now.
In short, Jackson’s deal and what it took to acquire him are both fine moves by the Bucks.