If the writing wasn't already on the wall that the Milwaukee Bucks and Andre Jackson Jr. would soon part ways, the Thanasis Antetokounmpo signing made it crystal clear. It feels like only a matter of time before the Bucks cut Jackson, whose deal is not guaranteed, to clear roster room for Thanasis. Doing so would officially add Jackson to the list of recent draft prospects who haven't worked out for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Bucks' recent draft record remains a glaring weak point
Milwaukee has had chances to add talent in recent years, but they haven't found anyone who has blossomed into a consistent contributor. Part of that feels like it's due to philosophy, as they have taken swings on project players over pieces who can help now. Getting those players to help on a team that is constantly contending hasn't panned out yet.
While he still had some growing to do, Andre Jackson Jr. was ironically one of the few draft picks in recent memory where the Bucks didn't take a project. He had three years of college experience and a title under his belt. There was hope he could become a consistent contributor when he broke into the rotation last season, but Doc Rivers clearly didn't completely trust him, benching him as soon as the team acquired Kyle Kuzma at the NBA Trade Deadline.
Now, he's on the outs.
He'll soon likely join a list that includes draftees like Jordan Nwora and MarJon Beauchamp, who flashed potential but never managed to stick in Milwaukee. The jury is still out on Chris Livingston, Tyler Smith, and Bogoljub Markovic, but their odds of cracking the rotation anytime soon seem slim. One could say Milwaukee's best pick since 2020 was AJ Johnson, and he's not in town anymore.
The picks haven't panned out so much that it feels like Milwaukee is cursed at this point. It has hurt their chances of repeating since 2021, as they've had countless chances to find hidden gems like teams such as the Indiana Pacers have, but they haven't had the same success. Hitting on one or two of these picks could have changed everything.
Jackson still has something to give. If he's cut by Milwaukee, someone will swiftly pick him up on a new deal to see what he has. Given the roster crunch, his time with the Bucks just seems to have run its course because he's the easiest one to part with.
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