Who surpassed expectations, and who fell short?
Following another disappointing Summer League performance by the Bucks, Finn and Jack have graded each of the team’s main contributors in Vegas. Let us know in the comments where you agree and/or disagree!
Andre Jackson Jr.: C
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AJax was the biggest letdown of Summer League for the Bucks. As a third-year wing who has started 51 NBA games, he was supposed to play a step above the inferior Vegas competition and get shut down after a couple of games. Instead, he rode the struggle bus, averaging just 5.5 points along with 2.5 turnovers while taking a concerning 3.0 field goals per game. His scoring aggression was nonexistent, and as his unthreatening offensive game is the main thing holding him back, that was frustrating to see. Now, to his defense, his role at the NBA level is not anything more than a fifth option. He was playing his part, focusing on the aspects that earn him minutes for the parent team, and Summer League is unkind to off-ball players. Still, seeing him at least let more than 1.5 threes fly per game would have been encouraging, especially because his shot has gotten better over time. Don’t forget he’s a 38.5% career shooter from deep, albeit on very low volume. Overall, though, Jackson’s future with the Bucks is now in jeopardy, and he’ll need to show some signs of growth soon to keep his roster spot.
Chris Livingston: A-
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After being waived by the Bucks before Summer League, Livingston played about as well as anyone could have reasonably expected in Vegas, earning another one-year contract with Milwaukee. He averaged the 13th most points (20.8 PPG) and shot an impressive 38.1% from three on considerable volume (5.3 attempts per game). Suffice to say, he did just about all he could do on his end to earn another chance. Still, questions remain regarding just how translatable Chris’ game is to the NBA level. He has the perfect body type to beat up on smaller players—the likes of which Summer League is filled with—but that style of game is improbable to translate at the NBA level. Therefore, he must, at a minimum, be able to shoot from deep at a good clip. Despite his percentages in Vegas, I still have real questions about that, given the way the shot looks. The other thing he must succeed at is defence; he has the bulk, but nobody really knows about his foot speed and game smarts because he hasn’t had a chance to showcase those elements of his game in the league yet.
Tyler Smith: C+
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I won’t sugarcoat it, Vegas was rough for the 20-year-old Smith, who struggled to get going offensively for the bulk of the tournament. He averaged 9.8 PPG and 3.8 RPG on 31.3% from the field and 20.7% from three. It wasn’t pretty. Now, I do think there needs to be some context added as to why Tyler struggled so badly. Firstly, shots weren’t falling; maybe that’s some of his fault for not being locked in enough to his mechanics, but perhaps that’s just how the cookie crumbled. Call me crazy, but I still believe in him 100% as a shooter; the shot is too pretty for me not to. Also, I think he was one player in particular who was hurt badly by not having a true PG next to him for the final three games. The other primary reason he struggled is a lack of strength. Many of Tyler’s mistakes boiled down to him being pushed around by bigger players; he won’t be touching an NBA court until he rectifies that. At the same time, he is so young that as long as he remains committed to the weight room, I still believe he’ll be an NBA contributor.
Bogoljub Markovic: B
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Our first look at Milwaukee’s newest draft pick gave us a reason to believe in him. The barely 20-year-old (his birthday was July 12th) power forward got off to a slow start, scoring zero points against Denver and five against Cleveland, but he found more comfort with each game, dropping a combined 35 points through his last three games. By the final contest, he was throwing down double-clutch dunks in transition and finishing tough and-ones off drives. Markovic’s IQ and feel are some of the main selling points of his game, and they were on full display in Vegas. He understands how to play the game at the pro level. Of course, he’s definitely behind the curve strength-wise, and he looked thin out there in NBA company. His physical disadvantages muted his impact on the glass and on defense. Don’t expect to see Bogi on the Bucks during the upcoming season, as spending a year in Europe bulking up will be what’s best for him. However, once his body is ready, this kid could be a gem.
Jamaree Bouyea: A
Bouyea is entering the second year of his two-year, two-way contract with the Bucks. Unfortunately, Jamaree only played two of the five games in Vegas due to an injury. Still, he certainly played well in the games he did appear in, averaging 16.5 PPG and 4.0 APG on efficient shooting. He also showed his flair for the dramatic with a game-winning three to secure Milwaukee’s only win of Summer League. The team noticeably declined when Bouyea got injured; without him, there was nobody to calm the team down, initiate sets, and get guys open looks the way he could. Look, at 26 years old, Jamaree’s basically a finished product as a no-nonsense third-string or backup point guard. The lack of size at 6’2” (and even that listing seems generous) is always going to limit his ceiling at the NBA level, but he’s undoubtedly a nice guy to have on the roster in case of an injury. Good performance from him in Vegas.
Pete Nance: A-
Chris Livingston led the scoring charge, and Jamaree Bouyea had the flashiest moments, but Pete Nance was pound-for-pound Milwaukee’s best player during the week in Vegas. Everything the big fella did out there can translate straight to a real NBA game. He’s a legitimate floor spacer—he found the bottom of the net 40.9% of the time from beyond the arc during the tournament, and 37.5% during his 13 games with the Bucks and 76ers last season. Nance is also a sharp defender who makes timely help rotations and can move his feet on the perimeter. He blocked 2.2 shots a game in Vegas. His ancillary skills, such as screening and high-post passing, are also intriguing. Milwaukee’s frontcourt rotation is loaded, with Giannis, Myles Turner, and Bobby Portis all capable of playing around 30 minutes per game. Still, the team should feel confident about having Nance as injury insurance.
Stanley Umude: B+
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After playing last season on a two-way with the Bucks, Umude is swaying in the wind right now as a free agent. The appeal of Stanley is that at 6’6”, he profiles well as a three-and-D guy, having shown a good ability to shoot from deep in previous stops. For the most part, I think Umude played well in that archetype; he shot 10/20 from deep in the five games, and his defence was solid. The part of his game, though, that has always been lacking is his creation off the bounce. If the opponent can stop him from shooting, he has very little ability to make the next play—that didn’t change in Vegas. To get another opportunity at the NBA level, he’ll need to add a string or two to his bow. Maybe that’s shooting off screens or becoming a slasher. For now, though, it’s safe to say we’ve likely seen the last of Stanley in Bucks green.
Cormac Ryan: C+
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Ryan was somewhat of a confusing evaluation for me. His first game against Denver was easily his most impressive, shooting 6/11 and 3/6 from deep. But after that, Cormac struggled to shoot efficiently, going 9/35 for the rest of the tournament. I must admit, I did get a little frustrated with how he was playing (and more specifically, how the coaches were using him). They seemed to be running Ryan off screening actions as if he were Ray Allen or something. The number of tough shots he took did not seem at all commensurate with his shooting ability. I’d much rather they had funnelled those opportunities elsewhere. On the other hand, I do think he made some nice plays as a connector with his off-ball movement, passing to waiting players under the hoop or around the three-point arc. In closing, it’s clear that Cormac isn’t an NBA player at this stage of his career.
Markquis Nowell: B
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Summer League teams often lack true playmakers, which is why the on-court product can appear sloppy. Jamaree Bouyea was alleviating that problem for the Bucks, but when he went down with an injury, Markquis Nowell stepped up to stir the drink and did so admirably. The team operated smoothly with him on the floor, putting together multiple significant runs, because he’s a gifted ball handler and floor general. Off-ball scorers like Jackson Jr. and Smith probably would have looked even worse without Nowell on the floor. That’s why he gets a positive grade here. Unfortunately, he’s listed at 5’8”, and that’s generous. He’s so small that Jahmir Young, a 6’1” guard for the Bulls, was able to bully him. On top of that, he’s an inefficient scorer, and he shot just 27.6% from the field in Vegas. Nowell is a March Madness legend and a G League killer, but he’s just not built for the NBA, literally.
Malik Williams: C-
In my Summer League preview article, I marked Malik Williams (and Jean-Jacques Boissy, who didn’t play a single second) as most likely to earn a two-way contract. On paper, that outcome would have made a lot of sense, as he’s an athletic stretch five, the type of guy who would fit nicely next to Giannis. However, he looked flat-out awkward in Vegas, inexplicably bricking open threes and floaters alike, shooting just 25.0% from outside and 45.0% from the field overall. His rebounding and defense were solid, but not much to write home about. In 2023–24, Williams had a seven-game stint with the Toronto Raptors, during which he shot a putrid 26.5% from the floor, including 27.6% from two-point range on 4.1 attempts. If inefficiency is a trait, not a trend, for the 27-year-old, then he’s probably just not an NBA player.