The Milwaukee Bucks have officially signed Pete Nance to a standard contract, and the details are a thing of beauty. Per Spotrac's Keith Smith, Nance's deal is worth $600K for the rest of the season, as the Bucks dipped into their Room Exception to sign him, and features two years of non guaranteed money beyond this one. That's a major win on the Bucks' end.
Nance's contract is a steal for the Milwaukee Bucks' front office
This deal couldn't be more team-friendly. Nance will get his money for the rest of this season, but the rest of the deal is far from set in stone. If the front office wants to bring the forward back next season, they can do so at an incredibly affordable price. If the hold those same feelings a year later, they can do the exact same thing.
For a team that is already at a financial disadvantage due to the money they owe Damian Lillard over the next several years, deals like these are essential. The Milwaukee Bucks now have a piece who may become a mainstay contributor under team control for the next several years at an affordable price and can use their limited assets to fill out other parts of the roster.
This deal feels comparable to the contracts AJ Green and Ryan Rollins were initially on. Both were on low-cost contracts and broke out with the Milwaukee Bucks before earning their current deals, which are also team friendly. If Nance follows in their footsteps and outplays his current deal, he could earn the same reward (a nice raise) in due time.
Nance earned his deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
Is Pete Nance a needle-mover? No. Has he been a bright spot and proven to be a nice role player for the Milwaukee Bucks in an ugly season? Absolutely. When given extended opportunities, the forward has played some solid basketball, averaging 7.3 points, five rebounds, 1.8 assists, and one block on 50 percent from long distance over his last five games.
Whether it's a rebuild without Giannis Antetokounmpo or a retooling with him, Nance fits into either timeline with the Milwaukee Bucks. Having just turned 26, he isn't a young, raw prospect, but he still has plenty of room to grow now that he finally has an oppotunity to spread his wings. If the Bucks lose any of Giannis, Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, Myles Turner, or Jericho Sims, Nance will get more time.
At the bare minimum, he's nice depth to have. As this season has proven time and time again, injuries can strike at any given moment. Depth will always be essential. Yet, if he continues playing well, there will be an opportunity for Nance to stick around with the Bucks and become more than just depth in the frontcourt.
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