After one season, Stanley Umude's time with the Milwaukee Bucks has concluded. Per HoopsHype, the wing is heading to San Antonio, inking an Exhibit 10 with the up-and-coming Spurs. Umude is a clear-cut example of the type of low-risk gambles the Bucks have been taking over the last several years, and like many of them, this one just didn't pan out.
Stanley Umude and the Milwaukee Bucks have officially parted ways
It was fairly obvious that Umude wasn't coming back to Milwaukee when the Bucks signed undrafted free agent Mark Sears to a two-way deal. That spot initially belonged to Umude, and the team could have brought him back for another go-round, but they clearly weren't sold- or they are simply higher on Sears, which would make sense.
It was hard to judge his play for the Milwaukee Bucks, as he appeared in just 22 games for an average of 3.9 minutes per game. He was a mop-up duty specialist. For a team that needed perimeter defense and quality 3-point shooting, Umude was a justifiable pickup, but unlike Ryan Rollins, he never made the jump from two-way player to standard contract player.
Umude now heads to San Antonio for training camp, and he will likely join their G League squad, the Austin Spurs, soon after. While he's not on the active roster, Umude could earn his keep down the line by impressing in the G League, which could earn him a promotion. Roster-wise, the Spurs could use another wing or two to beef up their roster. This will allow them to see what Umude is made of.
There are signs of Umude being a potential-filled player. With Milwaukee's affiliate in the G League last year, the wing averaged 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.9 blocks per matchup. At 26, he's not some young, raw talent, but that could play to Umude's advantage, as a team could possibly call on him if they need some immediate reinforcement on the wing due to his experience.
If Umude doesn't stick with the Spurs, his next chapter could involve heading overseas. Players from across the NBA have been taking the overseas route in recent years, hoping to return to the league in the near future. Sometimes it works, such as with Lonnie Walker IV and Dante Exum. It all depends on how that player performs.
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