Bucks Release Forward Nigel Hayes-Davis After Trade
bucks-release-nigel-hayes-davis
The Milwaukee Bucks have waived forward Nigel Hayes-Davis just hours after acquiring him from the Phoenix Suns in a three-team deal, the club confirmed in a press release.
Hayes-Davis, 31, returned to the NBA last fall following a seven-year absence. The 6-7 forward earned the opportunity by anchoring Fenerbahçe’s EuroLeague championship run and collecting Final Four MVP honors last spring. Phoenix signed him during the 2025 offseason, but his role never expanded beyond spot duty; he averaged 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 7.2 minutes across 27 games, appearing mostly in late-game situations.
Because the Bucks cut him immediately, Hayes-Davis is free to sign elsewhere. He is still eligible for a two-way contract but cannot rejoin the Suns. A return to Europe also remains an option.
Milwaukee picked up Hayes-Davis and Ousmane Dieng while sending Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to Phoenix before Thursday’s trade deadline. The move increased the Bucks’ payroll without bringing in additional assets, signaling that Dieng—not Hayes-Davis—was the primary target.
Source: Hoops Rumors
