Bucks waive Nigel Hayes-Davis following trade

The Bucks wasted little time making a decision on Nigel Hayes-Davis.

Milwaukee requested waivers on the veteran forward shortly after acquiring him from the Phoenix Suns in a three-team deal, the team announced.

It’s a quick ending to a brief return to the NBA.

Hayes-Davis last appeared in the league in 2018 before spending the next seven years carving out a strong résumé overseas.

He became a standout in the EuroLeague, capped by helping Fenerbahçe win a title and earning Final Four MVP honors last spring. That run earned him another NBA shot with Phoenix last offseason.

It didn’t stick. Hayes-Davis played sparingly, averaging 7.2 minutes across 27 appearances, mostly in garbage time. The production never had a chance to follow.

A return to Europe remains the most logical next step if another NBA opportunity doesn’t surface quickly. He’s still eligible for a two-way deal, just not with the Suns.

As for the Bucks, this move tells you where their priorities landed. Milwaukee didn’t add assets when it moved Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey for Ousmane Dieng and Hayes-Davis. With one already gone, it’s clear which part of that swap they’re betting on.