The Milwaukee Bucks made it clear that they aren't sold on Andre Jackson Jr. by pushing back the guarantee date on his contract, giving them more time to decide if they want to keep him or let him loose. Each day that passes without a resolution, the team remains silent, but it's loud and clear to everyone that his days with the franchise may be numbered.
Bucks' next order of business is settling Andre Jackson Jr.'s future
With a $2.2 million salary for next season, keeping Jackson in Milwaukee wouldn't be the worst thing from a financial perspective, especially since the team has already guaranteed him $800,000 of that for pushing back the guarantee date. Retaining a player who has played a starting role on this team, even just for depth, would make plenty of sense.
On the flip side, the Milwaukee Bucks may need to cut ties with Jackson to make further moves to put the finishing touches on this retooled roster. There has been chatter about the Bucks possibly adding Thanasis Antetokounmpo after his recovery from last year's Achilles tear. Maybe there is a player still available in free agency they have eyes on who is more proven or fills a need better than Jackson.
A trade could also be on the table. Perhaps the Milwaukee Bucks could fetch a second round pick for the youngster, who has shown he can be an NBA starter. If they are thinking bigger, the Bucks could combine the salaries of Jackson and Kuzma to find a much bigger fish to fry, perhaps one that is a legitimate small forward to patch arguably Milwaukee's biggest current roster hole.
Jackson did himself no favors with a mediocre stint in the Summer League, the third of his career, by putting up 5.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while also tallying three fouls and 2.5 turnovers per game. It was his chance to make a statement on why the team should keep him, and he clearly didn't do much to sway them.
It is interesting that the Milwaukee Bucks pushed back Jackson's guarantee date but decided to bring back Chris Livingston on a one-year deal shortly after waiving him recently. Unlike Jackson, Livingston did shine in the Summer League, so perhaps the Bucks are simply more sold on what Livingston brings to the table, despite not playing much in his career yet.
The Milwaukee Bucks don't have to make a decision on Jackson until opening night, but each day that goes by without a resolution, it only becomes clearer how much they are not sold on him.
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