In a move that’s sent ripples through the NBA’s late-season landscape, the Milwaukee Bucks have officially converted Pete Nance’s two-way contract to a multi-year standard deal, while waiving guard Cam Thomas just weeks after his arrival. The announcement came just hours before the Bucks’ clash with the Los Angeles Clippers, marking a pivotal roster shakeup as the team’s playoff hopes continue to fade.
For Nance, the promotion is a testament to perseverance and seizing opportunity. The 26-year-old forward/center, who joined the Bucks on a two-way pact in February 2025 after brief stints with the Cavaliers and Sixers, had been teetering at the edge of his 50-game two-way eligibility. With Milwaukee’s frontcourt battered by injuries—most notably Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined with a knee issue—Nance was thrust into the rotation and responded with the best basketball of his young career.
"It would mean everything to get a standard deal," Nance shared during shootaround on March 23, according to USA Today. "I think that’s the dream. I think coming in this league I just was an [Exhibit 10] and played in the G League a ton, and that’s obviously what I would come to the gym every day thinking about and working for, so being able to take that step would be amazing. But it would just make me hungry for even more and shows me that what I want and what I can think of and dream of is possible. So, just pushing towards more."
Statistically, Nance has made a solid impression. Over 37 games this season, he’s averaging career highs: 4.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game, while shooting a remarkable 56.4% from the field and 47.9% from beyond the arc. Those numbers may not leap off the page, but they reflect a player who’s maximized limited opportunities and provided much-needed depth during a turbulent campaign.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers was effusive in his praise: "He deserved it. Pete’s one of those guys that will help any basketball team, not only on the floor but in the locker room." Rivers, who has leaned on Nance more heavily since Antetokounmpo’s injury, credited the young forward’s work ethic and adaptability. Nance himself acknowledged the business side of the NBA, having been waived multiple times before finally earning a long-term spot. "It’s a business and it’s a brutal one. I’ve been on that side, where you’re the guy that’s out of there. I love every one of these guys on this team, so I have no idea what’s gonna happen or who it’s gonna be but just trying to focus on the situation and the stuff that has to do with me and just trying to be as excited about that as possible."
The Bucks’ decision to secure Nance’s services for the remainder of this season and the 2026–27 campaign comes with flexibility. While the financial terms haven’t been fully disclosed, the contract is widely reported to be team-friendly, likely with minimal guaranteed money and potential team options. This allows Milwaukee to retain a promising rotation piece without long-term risk—a classic late-season maneuver for teams eyeing future roster construction.
But with every addition comes a subtraction, and the Bucks’ corresponding move raised more than a few eyebrows. Guard Cam Thomas, signed on February 8 after four-plus years with the Brooklyn Nets, was let go to create space for Nance. Thomas’s Bucks tenure was a tale of two halves: he burst onto the scene with a blistering 34-point performance in just his second appearance (February 11), followed by a 27-point outing two games later. The early returns were tantalizing, and Milwaukee’s brass initially viewed him as a potential answer to their scoring woes.
However, Thomas’s production quickly cooled. Over his 18-game stint, he averaged 10.7 points per game on .431/.275/.754 shooting splits—well below his career marks. After February 20, his shooting percentages dipped further, with just 37.8% from the field and a paltry 25% from three-point range. He reached double figures in only five of his last 14 games, and defensive limitations further hampered his case for a long-term role.
“I thought Cam was really good overall and maybe somebody we revisit,” Doc Rivers remarked before the Clippers game. “Just where we’re at right now, you know, not really in the [playoff] hunt as when we signed him, we thought it was the right thing to do for the rest of the guys.” Rivers added, “There are things we don’t need to talk about. That’s not anybody’s business. Like I said before, that’s where as a coach you have to make decisions on what’s best for the team at that time. People don’t understand that. They start talking about other stuff. And, that’s not for anyone to know.”
Thomas’s role dwindled as the season wore on, with two DNP-CDs (did not play, coach’s decision) in mid-March and limited minutes when he did see the court. Even with Antetokounmpo’s absence opening up opportunities, Thomas couldn’t recapture his early form. Adding insult to injury, because he was waived after March 1, Thomas is ineligible for postseason play with another NBA team—a bitter pill for a player who had hoped to contribute in the playoffs.
Milwaukee’s front office faced a tough decision between Thomas and Andre Jackson Jr., both of whom were logical candidates for release. Jackson, though largely relegated to garbage time this season and holding a non-guaranteed team option for 2026–27, ultimately survived the cut. The Bucks’ calculus boiled down to maximizing future flexibility and rewarding a player—Nance—who’d proven his value under challenging circumstances.
For Nance, the journey from G League hopeful to standard NBA contract is a story of resilience. After four years at Northwestern and a “super senior” season at UNC, he bounced between Cleveland and Philadelphia before catching on with Milwaukee. In his own words: “To be able to be in this spot is just awesome. Obviously I’m super thankful for the Bucks for giving me the opportunity. I think it’s just a testament to growth and the work that I’ve done and the experience that I’ve had over the years.”
As the Bucks play out the string on a disappointing season, the focus has clearly shifted to evaluating young talent and setting the stage for 2026–27. Nance, now under contract and eligible for the rest of the season, will have every chance to solidify his place in Milwaukee’s future plans. The roster now stands at 15 standard contracts, with an open two-way slot that can’t be filled until the offseason due to league deadlines.
It’s a bittersweet day in Milwaukee—one man’s promotion is another’s exit. But for Pete Nance, it’s a well-deserved shot at NBA stability, and for the Bucks, another step in a new direction as they look to rebuild and retool for the seasons ahead.