The Bucks Requested to opt out of forwarding Pete Nanceforward/center of John Broomeand the center Jake Stevensannounced today by the team (via Twitter).
While Broome and Stevens were on Exhibition 10 contracts and was always considered a likely preseason exit, Nance’s release is more noteworthy. His salary was also non-guaranteed, but he had a two-year contract and Jake Fisher reported this week that Milwaukee hoped to keep him.
Re-signing Nance to a two-way deal remains a possibility if he clears waivers, as the Bucks do have an open slot, but Fisher suggested the Milwaukee front office has some concern about another team nabbing him now that he’s on waivers.
Brother of the Pacers big man Larry Nance JrPitt played in 47 games for Milwaukee last season, averaging 5.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game while shooting 51.5% from the floor, including 42.0% from three.
Broome, a 2025 second-round pick who spent his first year in Philadelphia, and Stevens, a former free agent who played in the G League and overseas in recent years, are both likely to end up with the Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee’s G League affiliate.
Despite today’s three reductions, the “Bucks” lineup is not yet ready for the regular season. The team still has 16 players on fully guaranteed standard contracts and needs to trade or waive one of those players before Monday’s deadline to make regular-season rosters.
