Taylor Jenkins calls Pete Nance cut ‘extremely difficult’ — and the Bucks bring him back on a two-way

MILWAUKEE — Taylor Jenkins did not pretend the call was easy. Asked after Monday’s practice about waiving Pete Nance, the Bucks’ coach said the decision was “extremely difficult” and made clear Milwaukee wanted to keep him around. Hours later, the team got its wish: Nance cleared waivers and the Bucks re-signed him to a two-way contract.

“He’s meant so much to this organization beyond my time, you know, since I got here last spring,” Jenkins said. “He fits our culture. I think he fits our style of play. Just a, you know, unfortunate part of the circumstances, just where our roster’s at right now.”

‘Hopefully that’s with the Bucks’

Milwaukee waived Nance from his standard deal on Saturday as it worked down from 17 players on standard contracts to the 15-man limit. Jenkins said the staff had talked with Nance and his agent throughout the summer about how much he means to the team. “His professionalism is off the charts, his culture fits off the charts, and I think he can really grow with us,” he said.

Jenkins also acknowledged Nance had options. “He’s got big decisions to make, you know, moving forward for his career, and he knows that we’re going to support him, you know, one way or the other, but hopefully that’s with the Bucks.” It ended up that way. Milwaukee had an open two-way slot next to Cormac Ryan and Kam Jones, so no other move was needed, and the Bucks now carry a full 18-man roster: 15 standard contracts and three two-way deals.

Nance, 26, played 47 games for Milwaukee last season, averaging 5.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 15.7 minutes while shooting 51.5% from the field and 42.0% from three. On a two-way contract he can appear in up to 50 regular-season games. His brother, Larry Nance Jr., now plays for Indiana, and said Monday it is “the coolest thing in the world” that Pete has made a name for himself.

The last cut came later Monday

Jenkins was also asked about the one roster decision still left before Monday’s deadline. He called it “another extremely difficult decision” and said it was not something that “just crept up the last couple of weeks.” He said the front office and coaching staff had been talking about it since the day he was hired. “Everyone brings something different to the table,” he said, and the goal was “the best decision, most educated decision possible for what we’re not just doing now but into the future.” Later that day, the Bucks waived Kevin Porter Jr.

Nate Ament is a full participant

The best health news was about the rookie. Jenkins said Nate Ament, who missed time with a left ankle sprain, was a “full participant” in a practice that included contact. “We’ll see how he responds tomorrow, but made good progress over the weekend and looked good out there today,” he said. He added that Ament is still getting his timing back but “looked like he was moving pretty well.” Everyone else was available.

Jenkins said no long-range plan has been set for Ament, whether that means minutes in Milwaukee or time with the G League’s Wisconsin Herd. “We haven’t even broached that one right now cuz he’s doing a great job right now,” he said. “Right now, I want him thinking about carving out a rotational spot for us.”

Kuzma, the starting five and a ‘tool belt’ for Washington

Kyle Kuzma started often in the preseason, but Jenkins would not lock in a lineup before Wednesday’s opener in Washington at 7 p.m. ET. “I mix lineups up all the time,” he said, adding that experience is one factor. He praised Kuzma’s progress over the last couple of days in learning the offense and in taking on the accountability the staff wants from him on defense. “This is a big year for him, big year for us, and … I’ve loved his leadership so far,” Jenkins said. Starting, coming off the bench and closing games are all still open, he said, and “that can change in a moment’s notice. It’s not just game to game, but within the game, too.”

As for the Wizards, Jenkins said the Washington-specific work will come at Wednesday morning’s shootaround. The plan is to stick with the base the Bucks installed in camp and keep a wide “tool belt” of coverages and personnel calls ready, then add layers as the season goes on. “Obviously, you get tempted as a coach to add more, but I want our guys to be free of mind going out,” he said. What they have worked on for three weeks “is going to apply to Washington, it’s going to apply to Chicago.”