Bucks Poised for Shocking Shake-Up: Is a Star Player on the Brink of an Unexpected Exit?

So, the Milwaukee Bucks just pulled the trigger on signing Thanasis Antetokounmpo to a one-year deal — on paper, it’s a modest move, but behind the scenes? It’s stirring the pot in Milwaukee’s locker room in a major way. Here’s the kicker: with a roster cap at 15, adding Thanasis means someone’s gotta hit the exit door. Enter the buzzing rumor mill—Andre Jackson Jr., the young talent who’s barely had his moment in the spotlight, might be packing his bags. Now, that sparks a fascinating dilemma: How do you juggle believing in a player’s potential while also facing the brutal realities of roster crunches? It’s a classic case of opportunity knocking for both the Bucks and Jackson—except it’s wrapped up in tough calls and no guarantees. Stick around, because this unfolding drama is far from just another signing announcement—it could reshape the Bucks’ season before it even kicks off.

The Milwaukee Bucks recently signed Thanasis Antetokounmpo to a one-year deal, which didn’t seem like a huge move, but it has serious implications.

Most notably, the Bucks now have to decide what they will do with the rest of their roster so they only have 15 players when the season begins.

Because of the Antetokounmpo signing, many people believe that Andre Jackson Jr. could be leaving the team.

“While the team has believed in his potential, the 23-year-old was on the trade block before last season’s trade deadline, league sources told ClutchPoints. The Bucks were seeking two second-round picks in a trade for Jackson, but they never received an offer including more than one second-round pick…Since other organizations know that the Bucks need to clear a roster spot, it will be virtually impossible for them to receive value in return for a player like Jackson or another minimum-contract-like player. That is why Jackson is a potential player who could be waived by the Bucks after signing Antetokounmpo,” via Brett Siegel.

The Bucks are looking to clear roster space after signing Thanasis Antetokounmpo and could potentially waive Andre Jackson Jr. as a result, per @BrettSiegelNBA

“While the team has believed in his potential, the 23-year-old was on the trade block before last season's trade… pic.twitter.com/dI6T6MnYJc

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 2, 2025

Jackson has spent his first two seasons in the NBA with the Bucks, averaging 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds during that time.

He’s a young man with talent, but hasn’t had the chance to show it off too much in Milwaukee, playing an average of just 12.5 minutes per game.

If he is waived by the Bucks, he might have an opportunity to do better with another squad.

This report from Siegel says that Milwaukee believes in Jackson, which means they would like to find a way to keep him.

But the Antetokounmpo signing puts them in a tough spot, and they have to make difficult decisions before training camp in a few weeks.

This doesn’t have to be the end of the road in the NBA for Jackson, but he may be leaving the Bucks soon.

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