Bucks waive Chris Livingston to begin roster shuffle

The Bucks are trimming their roster ahead of the regular season, parting ways with forward Chris Livingston, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Livingston, who turned 22 this week, was the final pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and appeared in just 42 games over two seasons with Milwaukee.

He averaged 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in limited minutes but showed flashes in the G League, where he posted 18.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game last season for the Wisconsin Herd.

The 6-foot-6 forward also impressed in Summer League and earned a new fully guaranteed one-year deal this offseason after briefly being waived.

The Bucks will now carry his $2.3 million salary as dead money unless another team claims him on waivers.

Milwaukee had 15 guaranteed contracts entering camp, meaning someone had to go. Waiving Livingston gives the Bucks flexibility to keep Andre Jackson Jr. or Amir Coffey for their final roster spot.

Jackson’s contract carries an $800K partial guarantee, which jumps to $2.22 million if he makes the team, while Coffey is on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 deal.

It’s a tough break for Livingston, who never quite carved out a rotation role in Milwaukee — but his G League production suggests another shot could come elsewhere.