10:49pm: Mamukelashvili has officially been waived, the Bucks announced in a press release.
4:06pm: The Bucks will waive big man Sandro Mamukelashvili, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link), Milwaukee worked with Mamukelashvili’s agents to try and help with his options in the future. We’ll have to wait and see whether the young forward/center has another opportunity lined up if he clears waivers.
After spending four college seasons at Seton Hall, Mamukelashvili was selected 54th overall in the 2021 draft. He has spent the past two seasons on a two-way contract with the Bucks, but his playing time was very limited at the NBA level — he averaged 3.2 PPG and 2.1 RPG on .439/.345/.750 shooting in 65 games (9.6 MPG) from 2021-23.
The Bucks have one of league’s best frontcourts, so it’s understandable why the 23-year-old’s minutes were limited. Still, he put up strong numbers in the G League with the Wisconsin Herd this season, averaging 23.3 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.0 SPG and 1.0 BPG on .486/.471/.667 shooting in four regular season games (36.5 MPG).
Once Mamukelashvili is officially waived, the Bucks will have one two-way slot open. They also have a couple of standard roster spots available; Meyers Leonard is temporarily occupying one, but his 10-day deal expires in a couple days.
Veteran incoming
Too late for that now. It seems likely this move was made so that they can sign Leonard to a full time contract. He’s been a big boost to the frontline depth and is clearly a real NBA player.
Sandro, unfortunately and for all of his skills, just doesn’t have the athleticism. We all hoped for the best, but he just isn’t talented enough.
It’s not too late to sign a veteran for the remainder of the season and playoffs. Players just need to be waived before March 1st and sign before the end of the regular season.
Nope. You can sign players for the rest of the season and the Bucks COULD fill those last 2 roster spots, but March 1st at 3:00 is the deadline to be on the PLAYOFF ROSTER.
If you don’t sign by then, you can’t be in the playoffs.
You are entitled to your completely wrong opinion. Mamukelashvili is an NBA-caliber player and will be on an NBA roster either this season or next season.
Having seen EVERY Bucks game for the last two years and attended about 30 in person, I can assure you that you are wrong. He gets blocked from behind all the time. Has no lateral quickness and can’t beat anyone. He gets beat constantly on defense. He’s undersized for a center (listed at 6′ 11″, he’s CLEARLY 2 inches shorter than Giannis when I’ve been within 10 feet of them). He has almost no jumping ability. He is VERY SKILLED, but even then he hesitates when he’s truly open and takes forced and contested shots when he’s not open (and misses both in most cases).
He couldn’t crack this line up, even when injuries struck Bobby and Giannis. When he played against scrubs on bad teams he still put up TERRIBLE numbers. He’s a G League superstar, which in MLB terms means he’s a AAAA player.
He’ll got to Europe and have a fine career against bad competition.
He may get more chances in the NBA, but they will be short lived. He’s just not a good enough athlete to compete against the best, despite his skills. Too slow.
Oops. My bad. Thought they had to both be cut by then and signed by then. It’s rare to see a lot of cuts after the deadline anyway. Sandro is a rare one.
Not a lot of players still out there. Better to roll with Leonard, who is a beast setting screens, plays D, and can knock down 3s.
Not that it particularly matters, but if he was a two-way player the entire season, his contract belonged to the Wisconsin Herd, not the Milwaukee Bucks. Even if he’s formally waived tomorrow instead of today, I believe he could still sign a standard contract anywhere and have playoff eligibility.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, that is incorrect. link to twitter.com
100 percent incorrect.
Mamukelashvili has to be waived; between he and Antetokounmpo, the team was in violation of the obscure but very necessary cap on “total amount of letters on a team’s roster’s names.”
Yup, so it was either him or Thanasis, and we all know he’s not going anywhere.
Person who puts names on the back of the uniforms is breathing a sigh of relief !!
Does this open a two-way spot for Leonard? Can he be signed to a two-way?
Leonard is not eligible for a two-way contract because he has too many years in the NBA under his belt. HoopsRumors has a great primer on eligibility for the two-way contract here: link to hoopsrumors.com
Thanks Chris. Been meaning to update that glossary entry since so many of the rules have been tweaked since then, but at least the eligibility criteria haven’t changed.
Bucks have 2 regular spots open (one of which he is temporarily occupying) because of the 3 for 1 trade for Crowder. He’s not eligible, but no need. They can ink him to a regular deal (and absolutely should, because he’s a beast of a screen setter, even if he rolls poorly, and can also knock down 3s and works hard on D and rebounds well).
It’s a great pick up for the Bucks and they should actually sign him to a several year deal.
Dragic should sign with the bucks
Deadline was 3:00 yesterday. Can’t happen now. He could sign but couldn’t be in the playoffs. I guess the Bucks roll with 2 open roster spots and one open 2 way contract.
They have depth at his positions, but not sure I would do that. If Giannis gets hurt, he is a great option at smallball 5. Obviously, playing time is a little difficult when guys are healthy, but I would love this guy on the Heat right now at that smallball 5, which they desperately need
They will probably extend Meyers Leonard to a full contract. That’s why I expected this cut. ML has been very good on this 10 day contract and Sandro was really a very bad player (doesn’t have NBA athleticism). Skilled, but can’t compete.