Plot twist!
In a surprising late-night turn of events, the Bucks have re-signed Ryan Rollins, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Less than a week ago, we said what we thought were our final goodbyes to Rollins after Milwaukee rescinded his qualifying offer, but now, he’s back. The young guard’s new deal is worth $12m over three years with a player option for the final season. The team had Rollins’ Early Bird rights, which they needed in order to afford that figure.
Rollins has been an enormous success story in player development for Milwaukee. They first acquired the former second-round pick on a two-way contract in February 2024, and he played just three games for the team that spring. He started this past campaign on a two-way as well, but went on to earn himself a standard deal and a rotation spot. Now, he’s officially locked in as a long-term part of this squad.
After signing this new deal, the 23-year-old is now slated to play a serious role for the Bucks next season. He should at least be the backup point guard, but he has a chance to start, too. Rollins excels in a three-and-D off-guard role—which makes him a nice fit next to Giannis—and he also has a solid foundation as an on-ball playmaker. The Toledo product assisted on 10.8 points per 75 possessions last season, which ranked in the 71st percentile, per BBall Index.
According to Michael Scotto, Rollins received interest from the Suns, Lakers, Spurs, and Trail Blazers in free agency, but he ultimately chose to return to the team that gave him his first real NBA opportunity. Take that, big markets, and welcome back, Ryan!