When the Milwaukee Bucks waived Chris Livingston, it was clear that they were on the fence about him long-term. They did give him a chance to prove his worth during the Summer League, and they clearly like what they've seen, as ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reports that Livingston is set to sign a new deal, which will be fully guaranteed, to beef up the small forward spot.
Bucks forward earns his place on a roster that needs depth
With his back against the wall - and NBA future uncertain - Livingston understood what was at stake in the Summer League. In three games, he averaged a team-high 20 points while also pulling down 5.3 rebounds and dishing 2.7 assists per game. He's taken charge of the team in this span, showing off skills impressive enough that Milwaukee had a change of heart.
Re-signing Livingston also makes sense to solve one of Milwaukee's most pressing needs, which is another small forward. Taurean Prince was the only one on the payroll for the past few weeks, and it felt like the Bucks would add one sooner or later. Many thought they would look externally, perhaps at someone like Caleb Houstan or Amir Coffey, but that was clearly not the final call.
Entering next season, Livingston's spot in the rotation is far from guaranteed. He hasn't been able to crack the rotation at all during his first two seasons. However, if the play he's displayed throughout the Summer League leads to legitimate growth, perhaps he could be this year's Ryan Rollins, aka a young player who makes such an impact that he leaps the veteran ahead of him in the rotation.
At 21, Livingston is still raw, but with the Milwaukee Bucks clearly embracing a much younger and quicker roster for next season, perhaps there's a chance Livingston can get in on the action.
As an end of the bench depth piece making the minimum, this certainly isn't a signing that will cause an uproar, especially with Chris Livingston's strong Summer League play thus far.
With Livingston re-signed, there's no telling what the Milwaukee Bucks will do next. All eyes are now on fellow Summer Leaguer Andre Jackson Jr., who had his contract guarantee date pushed back recently, signaling that the Bucks also aren't certain about him. Whether it comes via a trade or just letting him walk, Jackson will likely be involved in Milwaukee's next move in some capacity.
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