Shortly after being promoted from G Leaguer to a two-way player, Cormac Ryan is already playing his way into a standard contract. The Milwaukee Bucks won't have to look far to figure out the financials, as a deal should look similar to what they gave Pete Nance, a former two-way Buck who made his way onto the standard roster recently.
The Pete Nance blueprint should be followed soon
After playing strongly on his two-way, Nance received a deserved promotion in the form of a standard multi-year deal. Really, it was a contract that was only guaranteed for the rest of this season, with the following two seasons non-guaranteed, as reported by Spoctrac's Keith Smith. That type of flexibility is as team-friendly as it gets, allowing the Bucks to keep Nance for cheap or cut him with no risk.
Ryan, who has hit the ground running with the Milwaukee Bucks, should earn a similar deal in no time. With just two games left and no roster room, Ryan won't earn a promotion to the standard roster this season. However, as soon as free agency opens, the team could swiftly look to lock him up on a deal that gives them his rights but also plenty of financial flexibility.
If Ryan were to get a partially guaranteed contract that locks him in with Milwaukee for a few years, that would be a significant win. With the way that he's playing, though, Ryan might have raised his stock enough to earn a fully guaranteed deal, at least for all of next season. Whatever the case, the Bucks would be wise to lock up their impressive wing as a standard roster player.
Ryan is doing unheard-of things with the Bucks
Ryan is the first player since Brandon Jennings in 2009-10 to record multiple 20-point scoring nights in his first seven career games with the Bucks. In five April games, Ryan is now averaging 17.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 55.6 percent from downtown. Talk about making a strong first impression.
The Milwaukee Bucks would be foolish to let a player like him walk. Good role players don't grow on trees, especially ones who could be cheap like Ryan. The wing still has two games to send the team an emphatic reason to keep him, and with the way he's been playing, he almost certainly will.
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