Bucks Waive Cam Thomas, Sign Pete Nance to Standard Contract

The Milwaukee Bucks waived guard Cam Thomas Monday night, according to ESPN’s Jamal Collier, less than two months after acquiring him from the Brooklyn Nets. The move comes as the Bucks convert the two-way contract of forward Pete Nance into a standard NBA contract.

Bucks General Manager Jon Horst had publicly expressed confidence in Thomas’s potential contribution to the team’s championship aspirations following his arrival on February 8. Following a 34-point performance off the bench in his second game with Milwaukee on February 11, coach Doc Rivers drew comparisons to veteran scorers he’d previously coached, stating, “I’ve had Jamal Crawford. I had Lou Williams. … And now, I have Cam Thomas.”

However, Thomas’s role diminished significantly in recent weeks. He averaged 9.6 points on 41% shooting, with 1.9 assists and 16 minutes played over the 16 games following his initial strong showing. In 18 total games with Milwaukee, Thomas failed to provide the expected spark for a team currently 11th in the Eastern Conference and struggling to secure a play-in tournament berth.

Due to the fact that Thomas was waived after March 1, he is ineligible for postseason play should he sign with another team, according to Collier.

Nance, meanwhile, has become a more consistent contributor for the Bucks. He has appeared in a career-high 37 games this season and has seen his playing time increase in February, averaging 15.3 minutes, 5.2 points on 56% shooting (48% from three-point range), and 2.7 rebounds.

The decision to waive Thomas comes as the Bucks grapple with a 28-40 record and face increasing uncertainty regarding their playoff prospects. ESPN reported earlier this month that the team and Giannis Antetokounmpo were at odds over whether he should continue playing through a left knee injury, with Antetokounmpo resisting the team’s desire to shut him down for the remainder of the season. The Bucks currently trail the Charlotte Hornets by 6.5 games for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.

Jamal Collier, an NBA reporter for ESPN since September 2021, covers the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, and the Midwest region of the NBA. He previously covered the Chicago Bulls for the Chicago Tribune.