The Milwaukee Bucks waived Pete Nance on Friday before his salary for next season became fully guaranteed. ## What happened?
The Bucks are entering a new era after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat last week. They selected Brayden Burries and Nate Ament in the draft and re-signed Ousmane Dieng to a three-year, $17.5 million contract. The team also brought in 2025 second-round pick Bogoljub Markovic on a multi-year deal.
Why it matters for Milwaukee Bucks
With players like Kel’el Ware, Myles Turner, Jericho Sims, and Kyle Kuzma still on the books, the Bucks had to part ways with a 26-year-old power forward. Pete Nance was coming off the best season of his career, averaging 5.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 47 games last season. He was the ultimate role player for Milwaukee, hustling and bringing energy off the bench.
What comes next?
Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma are potential trade candidates since they don’t fit the Bucks’ current timeline. As for Nance, he is still listed as part of the team’s Summer League roster. The Bucks are set to play their first game in the California Classic on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center. According to Dalton Sell of Behind The Buck Pass, a reunion between Nance and the Bucks should not be ruled out. Nance is still eligible for one more year of a two-way deal, so there’s a chance he could return to Milwaukee next season. He could also play for the team’s NBA G League affiliate.
Recent form: | Date | Opponent | Result | | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-12 | Philadelphia 76ers | 126-106 |
The Bucks have lost their last two games, with a recent form of 2W-0D-3L (LLWWL, most recent first). Nance began his NBA career as an undrafted free agent in 2023, signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers and playing eight games for them as a rookie. He spent time with the Philadelphia 76ers in his second season before joining the Bucks, earning a standard contract last March. His father, Larry Nance Sr., is a former NBA player and three-time All-Star, and his brother, Larry Nance Jr., is also an unrestricted free agent this summer.