The Bucks have signed rookie big man Sandro Mamukelashvili to a two-way contract, per NBA.com’s official transactions log. According to Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link), the deal will cover two seasons.
Mamukelashvili, who spent four seasons at Seton Hall, averaged 17.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 3.2 APG in 27 games (35.6 MPG) as a senior in 2020/21, earning Big East Player of the Year honors.
The Pacers technically made the 6’11” forward/center the No. 54 pick in the draft last Thursday, but they were making the pick on behalf of the Bucks, having agreed to a trade involving the No. 31 selection. That trade was finalized on draft night.
The Bucks finished the season with Justin Jackson and Axel Toupane on two-way deals, but didn’t make either player a qualifying offer, signaling their intent to turn over those two slots. Mamukelashvili will fill one, while the other remains open for now.
Mamukelashvili? Steven A Smith… PAGING STEVEN A SMITH
sandro has developed great in college. he is going to transition into the league just fine.
He’ll be a guy.
He won’t be able to defend, he isn’t a great rebounder. He’s a decent shooter, a very good passer…
But just PLEASE…please Bucks, take someone with a high ceiling and a low floor next year. I really thought we’d try and follow the SAS model, but instead we’re just grabbing guys who might be able to kinda help us out now but who don’t really have much upside. Nwora was a nice pick, but IDK, I guess I’d rather they’d have stayed at #31 and tried to pick up someone with upside.
The Bucks are going to get old and they’ll need to find a way to re-load before Giannis contract is up. I think Jrue and Middleton will be 31 and 30 this year. Brook will be 34 next year. It’s not exactly critical just yet, but developing some young talent is starting to get pretty important.