Move signals start of roster reshuffle
As the Milwaukee Bucks continue to gear up with an eye on the NBA postseason, they’ve gone ahead and done a little roster hedge trimming this afternoon per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype:
The Milwaukee Bucks are waiving two-way center Liam Robbins, league sources told @hoopshypeofficial.bsky.social. The 7-foot center appeared in 13 games for Milwaukee this season.
— Michael Scotto (@mikeascotto.bsky.social) 2025-02-27T22:00:18.519Z
Robbins has been around the team since training camp where he was able to secure a spot as the nominal deep (deep) bench big. Despite his size he was never called into duty on a regular basis with a mere 13 appearances and averages of 4.4 minutes, 0.7 points, and 0.9 rebounds. Aged 25 going on 26, he was always an emergency availability play rather than a developmental piece for GM Jon Horst. That the Bucks largely avoided needing his services is a testament to the durability—until recently—of Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The arrival of Jericho Sims at the trade deadline reduced Liam’s necessity to nil even with Portis suspended for 25 games.
The biggest short-term consequence of the waiver is on the roster. Right now the team retains Ryan Rollins and Stanley Umude on two-way contracts. Rollins is set to hit his maximum number of appearances allowed for a player on his deal (50) tonight against the Nuggets. In order to remain available for selection, he’ll need to be converted to a full-time roster spot.
Site manager Van Fayaz ran through the finer points here, but the main takeaways are:
- Milwaukee can (temporarily) open another full roster spot when they move Bobby Portis to the suspended player list
- Even if they convert Ryan Rollins to a full deal they’ll have a place open for a pickup from the buyout market
- Only players bought out of their deal before March 1st are playoff eligible if they sign with a different team
- Once Bobby returns from suspension, if the roster is at its full 15 player complement, someone will need to be let go (i.e. waived)
- When/if Rollins moves to a full contract the Bucks will then have two open two-way spots to fill
- Two-way players can be signed through Tuesday, March 4th
- Two-way players cannot participate in postseason play
In summary, we should see some resolutions forthcoming on the roster’s makeup as we hit the final stretch of the season. Perhaps the most exciting part? Seeing who Horst is able to dig up from the environs of global basketball to slot into a now-open two-way contract.
Finally, best wishes to Liam Robbins on wherever his basketball journey takes him next.