Andre Jackson Jr. was already facing an uphill battle as a third-year player set to play in Summer League. However, with The Athletic's Eric Nehm reporting that the Milwaukee Bucks and Jackson have agreed to push back his contract guarantee date for next season, it's clear that the youngster's future in Milwaukee might be hanging in the balance.
Andre Jackson Jr. must shine in Summer League
Jackson's guarantee date for his 2025-26 contract was initially on July 7. Why would the Bucks push it back? Although nothing is concrete at this moment, it certainly sends the message that there may be more moves coming for Milwaukee. With a surplus of guards, perhaps they feel like Jackson has become expendable on the depth chart, so parting with him could clear room for someone else.
Milwaukee's roster could currently use another point guard and small forward. While they do have a handful of roster spots open, they could look to beef up those positions via free agency with multiple names rather than house another two-guard at the end of the bench. They could also look to include him in a trade as a sweetener, perhaps with Kyle Kuzma, due to a lack of draft capital.
With his future in Milwaukee uncertain, Jackson could do himself a lot of favors once the Bucks begin Summer League play. Perhaps a strong showing, especially if he displays improved play offensively, could be enough to grab the attention of the front office and make them think twice about possibly letting him go if that is indeed something they are considering.
Of course, it could also set himself up for his next landing spot. If he plays well, teams will take notice and look to reach out if he hits the market, whether via free agency or trade.
Currently, there's no telling why exactly the Milwaukee Bucks did this. Perhaps they just wanted to evaluate him in the Summer League and see his development. He could do himself a major favor by showing aggressiveness on offense, such as hunting for his own shots and not being too passive, two issues that got him pulled from the starting lineup last season.
On the other hand, another poor showing could mean trouble for Jackson's trajectory.
Only time will tell if the Milwaukee Bucks have another move up their sleeve that involves Jackson.
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