In addition to an open standard roster spot, the Milwaukee Bucks now also have a two-way slot freed up after releasing two-way center Liam Robbins.
While he never played a prominent role for the Bucks, it is still somewhat surprising that Robbins was let go. The 7-footer flexed his potential in the NBA Preseason and with the team's G-League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, this season. However, this move indicates that the Bucks might have their eyes on a different player.
Two-way contracts differ from regular contracts because players have to possess fewer than four years of experience. Generally, most of their time is spent down in the G-League, where they earn legitimate reps to work on their game and work hard to potentially earn an NBA call-up down the line. Bucks wing AJ Green is the blueprint.
That said, let us look at some replacements for Robbins.
Johnny Davis
Wisconsin native and former Badger Johnny Davis never lived up to the hype of being the 10th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. With his minutes decreasing in each of his first three years with Washington, Davis was traded and cut at the NBA Trade Deadline. At just 23 years old, Davis is still young, and perhaps a change of scenery back in his home state of Wisconsin could do him some good.
On paper, there's a lot to like about Davis. He's a lengthy 6-foot-5 shooting guard who can put points on the board while boasting impressive athleticism, all things the Milwaukee Bucks could use more of. Davis probably could have used another year in school to truly work on his game, but some time with the Herd could give him a chance to develop his game with legitimate reps nightly.
Jalen Hood-Schifino
Another recent first-round pick who didn't click was Jalen Hood-Schifino of the Los Angeles Lakers. The shooting guard, selected 17th overall in 2023, never found his footing in LA and averaged a mere 5.3 minutes per game over his first two years before being traded and waived. Looking for his next landing spot, the Bucks taking a two-way flyer on him wouldn't hurt.
Like Davis, Hood-Schifino is another lengthy young guard with plenty of upside if he gets a chance to really work on his game. The 21-year-old flashed legitimate potential in the G-League last season by averaging 22 points and 5.5 assists while shooting 43.2 percent from deep in 15 games last season. Allowing the youngster to spend more time with the Herd could help his development further.
Ibou Badji
Speaking of the Wisconsin Herd, Ibou Badji has been a key player for them for quite a while now, and he's currently having a solid season. First and foremost, he's been an elite rim protector for them this season, averaging a G-League-best 3.6 blocks per game. With impressive height and length to go with his athletic ability, Badji has the chops to be be a terror for opposing offenses.
The question marks with Badji stem from pretty much everywhere else. He's never been much of a threat offensively, and he lacks any semblance of a jumper. All of this was on display when Badji got a chance to play in the Summer League and struggled. However, perhaps he has improved aspects of his game with his impressive season in the G-League. On a two-way, this would be low-risk.
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