Bucks' draft night trade proves fruitless after latest update (for now)

It is easy to forget that the Milwaukee Bucks made a draft-night trade to select Malique Lewis with the 60th overall pick. Brayden Burries stole the show in Summer League, and Nate Ament showed glimpses, while Lewis failed to make an impact. The trade was low-risk, but it has been confirmed as fruitless, as Lewis has signed a two-year deal with the Cairns Taipans and will return to Australia.

Lewis' lack of impact in Summer League made Bucks' stance clear

Jon Horst only gave up cash considerations to trade back into the draft to get Lewis with the final pick. Hence, this move was low-cost and can still be revisited in the future. Coming into the draft, there was some noise around Lewis being a potential project player for teams as a 3-and-D small forward who shot over 38 percent from deep with the South East Melbourne Phoenix last season.

Summer League was an opportunity for him to stake his claim for a spot on the team, potentially as a two-way player or a deal with the Wisconsin Herd. In four games over the summer, he averaged 4.8 points and 3.2 rebounds. Shooting 29.4 percent from the field (25 percent from deep) showed there was plenty to work on and that he'd be unlikely to make the roster.

His return to Australia could work out well for him, similar to how Bogoljub Markovic spent an extra season in a comfortable environment to further develop his game. There is the potential for the Bucks to revisit Lewis in a year, but for now, he'll continue his career Down Under.

Further moves to come as roster crunch begins

Lewis was the first victim of the Bucks' overflowing roster, and moves need to be made to reach the 15-player maximum.

There is always the potential for smaller trades to be made as the Bucks look to build up their draft capital again, similar to the deal with the Pistons to acquire Caris LeVert. Pete Nance is certainly a candidate, with his deal not fully guaranteed, meaning it could be an easier way out for the Bucks to get to 15 players.

The four players acquired in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade are likely safe; Markovic's four-year deal will keep him safe. A few questions are still lingering around the Bucks' roster heading into the new season, and Malique Lewis isn't currently in the plans as the draft-night trade to get him results in an overseas stash.

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