As the Milwaukee Bucks aim to bounce back from their underwhelming 2023-24 season, they are reportedly adding a former top-10 draft pick to the roster. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Bucks have signed Justise Winslow to an Exhibit 10 contract. The 28-year-old spent the entirety of last season with the Toronto Raptors‘ G League affiliate, the Raptors 905. On the year, 15.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1 block per game.
The Milwaukee Bucks agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with Justise Winslow, league sources told @hoopshype. Winslow has averaged 8.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 8 NBA seasons after being the 10th pick in the 2015 draft. He spent last season with Raptors 905 in the G League pic.twitter.com/YMgBngcasu
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) October 17, 2024
Despite being the 10th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Winslow has had a lackluster career in the league. During his rookie season with the Miami Heat, he finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting. However, he averaged 6.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on the season and only started eight games. He showed flashes, especially during the 2018-19 season when he averaged 12.6 points and started 52 games (both career highs). However, he never became the player many thought he would.
In addition to playing for the Heat, Winslow also had stints with the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, and Portland Trail Blazers. Winslow has not appeared in an NBA game since December 2022.
Milwaukee Bucks Sign Justise Winslow to Exhibit 10 Contract
Justise Winslow’s Role in Milwaukee
Winslow is not likely to make the Bucks’ final roster to start the regular season. Given that he signed an Exhibit 10 deal and signed very late in the preseason, Winslow will likely play for Milwaukee’s G League affiliate this season. However, adding the Duke alum is a low-risk, high-reward move for Milwaukee.
Though he never truly lived up to his draft status, Winslow still offers value to NBA teams. Most notably, he still offers a lot of versatility. At 6’6″, Winslow can play shooting guard and small forward. Additionally, while he may be a bit undersized, he has experience playing power forward in the NBA as well. He is athletic and is a good, versatile defender. However, Winslow’s main problem is he does not excel at anything and is a mediocre three-point shooter.
Regardless, once a highly regarded draft pick, taking a shot on Winslow is a smart move for Milwaukee. If he can rejuvenate his NBA career, he can contribute to a contending team like Milwaukee. If not, he will just remain in the G League anyway.
The Last Word On the Bucks
Winslow is not the only player Milwaukee signed to an Exhibit 10 contract recently. Earlier today, the Bucks also signed big man Henry Ellenson to an Exhibit 10 contract. Like Winslow, Ellenson was a top draft pick, going 18th overall to the Detroit Pistons in 2016. It seems that the Bucks are bringing in numerous low-risk, high-reward players on these contracts. Whether either of them can progress far enough to contribute to the team as soon as this season remains unknown, however.
