Milwaukee Bucks sign Cormac Ryan to two-way deal

The Bucks signed Wisconsin Herd shooting guard Cormac Ryan to a two-way contract, the Bucks announced Thursday afternoon. Ryan, who has averaged 20.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game with the Herd, steps into a competitive wing rotation as the Bucks attempt to push for a play-in spot. Ryan fills the Bucks’ third and final two-way slot, joining Pete Nance and Alex Antetokounmpo.

After going undrafted out of North Carolina, Ryan joined the Oklahoma City Blue as a rookie before signing with the Herd. The deal will pay Ryan $636,435, half of the league’s rookie minimum. As a two-way player, Ryan will be ineligible to play in any postseason games, including the play-in. He will be available to play in 13 of the Bucks’ 25 remaining games.

Ryan has been the star player on a struggling Herd team with virtually no chance of making the G League playoffs. A 6’5” wing, Ryan’s best attribute has been his shooting. He posted .489/.439/.857 shooting splits in 26 games with the Herd. However, Ryan is also a skilled defender (1.7 steals per game) and solid rebounder, thanks to his lengthy frame. The 27-year-old isn’t an up-and-coming prospect, but could blossom into a solid contributor through his plug-and-play fit with the Bucks.

With Ryan’s signing, the Bucks’ roster is completely rounded out; they’ve filled all two-way spots and have 15 players signed to standard NBA contracts. Ryan will likely slot behind AJ Green, Ousmane Dieng, Gary Harris, and Gary Trent Jr. when it comes to wing depth, although Doc Rivers and the Bucks may value Ryan’s bench scoring and energy.

With the Bucks’ two-way dilemma solved, they have one more dilemma to tackle: whether to convert Pete Nance to a standard NBA deal at the cost of waiving another player. Nance has played incredibly since joining the Bucks, shooting .588/.510/.735 in 25 total appearances. He is also approaching his limit of active designations and would be ineligible to play in Bucks postseason games. If the Bucks do make room for Nance, the Bucks front office would likely waive Andre Jackson Jr.