Former Milwaukee Bucks draft pick Tyler Smith was recently cut by the Houston Rockets from his two-way deal without playing a game, leaving the 2024 second-round pick's NBA future in jeopardy.
Tyler Smith cut for the second time this season
NBA insider Jake Fischer announced on Saturday that Smith was cut by Houston from his two-way deal to allow the Rockets to sign Tristen Newton in his place. This is the second time this season Smith has been cut, following the Bucks' waiving of the forward before the season, with Amir Coffey taking his spot on the roster.
He was selected with the 33rd pick in the 2024 draft following a year with the G League Ignite. Smith displayed raw talent but with plenty of potential as a stretch four, making him the perfect fit for what the Bucks were looking for as a long-term teammate of Giannis Antetokounmpo's. As the team needed forward help last season, Smith was never really given a shot, but when he did get the opportunity, he failed to take his chance to become a mainstay in the rotation.
In his only season with the team, Smith played just 23 games in the NBA, averaging 2.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 5.3 minutes per game. His career high was 20 points in the overtime win over the Detroit Pistons to end the 2024-25 season. Outside of that, he only scored more than six points on two more occasions.
Unfortunately, Smith is part of a long line of Bucks draft picks who have failed to achieve success for the team or in the league. AJ Johnson was taken in the first round in 2024 and was part of the big deal last season that saw Khris Middleton moved on for Kyle Kuzma. The team drafted Chris Livingston in 2023, also off the team, and Andre Jackson Jr., who has appeared in just 15 games so far this season.
Bogoljub Markovic was the only player selected by the Bucks in the 2025 draft, with the forward spending the season in Serbia with Mega Basket. For his own development, it makes sense to remain in a familiar environment and get reps under his belt before hopefully being a part of the roster next season.
For Smith, it feels like a long way back to the NBA, with so few appearances in his two years in the league. Milwaukee's scouting department has struggled, but so has the player development. Even before Smith was cut, there were rumors of him being a part of a trade the Bucks could have made over the offseason.