Andre Jackson Jr. is extension eligible, but the Milwaukee Bucks actually giving him one would be their most shocking move of the summer. Yes, even more so than their stunning move to bring on Myles Turner from the rival Indiana Pacers. Simply put, Jackson's days with the Bucks feel numbered due to the current Bucks roster.
Jackson will almost certainly be among the first cuts
It's been clear for months that the Milwaukee Bucks aren't entirely sold on Jackson. If they were, they would have guaranteed his contract immediately, and they certainly wouldn't have pushed back the guarantee date until opening night. Simply put, they've given themselves the flexibility to cut Jackson and suffer little financial repercussions if they do so. Things are trending in that direction.
The Bucks are allowed to carry 21 players in training camp - 18 standard players and three two-ways - but they will soon have to whittle the roster down to 18 total. After the Thanasis Antetokounmpo signing, Jackson and Amir Coffey are on the outside looking in. There isn't room for either player on the roster right now. Unless the Bucks make another move to clear a spot, they will be gone.
Even if the Milwaukee Bucks were to make room for one more player, it feels like Coffey would earn that roster spot over Jackson. The forward is a more established player, and Doc Rivers has wasted no time raving about his efforts at training camp. Many would argue he has the chops to make a bigger impact with this particular group.
Simply put, Andre Jackson Jr. won't be getting an extension with the Bucks despite being eligible. In fact, he might not even be with the team for much longer.
Things have changed drastically for Jackson since the turn of the year. Early last season, he became a starter for this team, providing tenacious defense against some of the league's top players. He was essential in the Bucks' NBA Cup win with a defensive masterclass against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, shutting down the guard almost entirely. He was quickly becoming a key cog.
Unfortunately for Jackson, his lack of offensive growth kept him on a short leash and often saw him get pulled from games early. In today's NBA, players must be able to play both sides of the floor, and Jackson just couldn't. Once Kyle Kuzma got to town, the wing was yanked from the rotation entirely, which is why he finds himself in this current predicament.
If Jackson is cut, someone will surely pick him up. His NBA days won't be done entirely, but they won't continue in Milwaukee.
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