Bucks to Retain Amir Coffey; Spurs and Suns Complete Roster Cuts Ahead of Deadline
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Oct. — With the NBA’s regular-season roster deadline approaching on Monday, three Western Conference clubs made a flurry of moves to set their opening-night lineups.
Bucks
Milwaukee will keep veteran wing Amir Coffey on its 15-man roster, league sources told HoopsHype. Coffey, 28, joined the Bucks in August on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract that is expected to convert to a standard deal before the season tips off.
The 6-foot-7 guard spent his first six seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers and averaged 9.7 points on 47 percent shooting—41 percent from three-point range and 89 percent at the free-throw line—in 72 games last year.
Milwaukee must waive one player to stay at the roster limit. The decision is expected to come down to Andre Jackson Jr., who has an $800,000 partial guarantee after being drafted 36th overall in 2023, or Tyler Smith, who is owed $1.96 million. Jackson appeared in all four preseason contests; Smith played in two.
Spurs
San Antonio reduced its roster to 15 guaranteed spots by waiving Adam Flagler, Stanley Umude and Micah Potter. All three were on Exhibit 10 contracts and are expected to report to the G League’s Austin Spurs, where they can each earn bonuses of up to $85,300 for a 60-day stay.
Flagler, 25, logged limited minutes in 37 games on a two-way deal with Oklahoma City last season. Umude, 26, appeared in 22 games for Milwaukee and shot 19 percent from the field. Potter, 27, played 38 times for Utah and averaged 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 18.6 minutes.
Veteran center Bismack Biyombo, also on a non-guaranteed pact, survived the cuts and will open the season on San Antonio’s 15-man roster.
The Spurs additionally signed and immediately released James Banks, Jamaree Bouyea and Kyle Mangas to secure their G League rights for Austin.
Suns
Phoenix waived forward Sean McDermott and wing Nathan Mariano, one day after both signed Exhibit 10 agreements, according to the NBA’s official transaction log.
McDermott, 28, last appeared in the league with Memphis during the 2020-21 campaign before stints in Italy and Turkey. Mariano, 22, has played several seasons for Franca in Brazil’s top division.
Both players are expected to join the Valley Suns in the G League and can each collect up to $85,300 if they remain with the affiliate for two months.
The Suns now hold 14 standard contracts and three two-way slots. Despite having space for a 15th player, the franchise is not expected to fill the vacancy because of luxury-tax concerns.
Source: Hoops Wire