As the Milwaukee Bucks get that much closer to the start of the season, they are looking to make some sound roster shuffles. While their standard 15-man squad looks pretty much ready to go, the three two-way contract spots are getting attention now. And it seems, they turned to a 2015 No. 10 pick to fill that spot. Weirdly, the Bucks also let go of him within a few hours, as well…

Justise Winslow might be a name familiar to a few of us. The Miami Heat selected the standout Duke alum back then, and he stayed with them for the next five years. Following his stint with Miami, he had a rather lackluster hoops career, bouncing around the league. But if he would be able to revive it in Milwaukee, Winslow would be contributing to a contending team.

Perhaps this was what the Bucks had in mind when they signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract. Underdog NBA tweeted, “Transaction alert: Justise Winslow has signed an exhibit 10 contract with the Bucks.”

However, in the span of a few hours, the Milwaukee Bucks were in the news again, after they waived the 28-year-old. Underdog NBA once again tweeted, “Transaction alert: Justise Winslow has been waived by the Bucks.”

Although no further update has been provided on the same, the chances are that the quick sign-and-waive was conducted to secure Winslow’s G League rights. Should he decide to join the Bucks’ developmental team and spend 60 days with the Wisconsin Herd, the former NCAA Champion could receive a bonus worth up to $77.5K. Considering it doesn’t put the franchise in any financial constraint, this is, at best, a low-risk, high-reward move.

Also, Justise Winslow had worked out with the Milwaukee Bucks in the offseason in Vegas. So, they have seen what the Houston native can do. Clearly, they believe he has enough left in the tank to make a difference. And hopefully, make his case.

Can Justise Winslow revive his career with the Milwaukee Bucks despite an injury-plagued past?

Coach Spoelstra was quite enamored with the 6’6″ forward, who was his go-to defender against lethal opponents like LeBron James and James Harden. As the season ended, Justise Winslow received the NBA All-Rookie Second-Team honors. However, injuries had derailed his career to an extent. Starting in 2016, a sore left wrist saw Winslow miss 16 games, followed by a season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder the next year.

Except for a knee strain that caused him to miss 14 games in 2017-18, things started to look up for Winslow. However, it didn’t last long. In Justise’s final season with the Heat, he played just 11 games before he got sidelined with a back injury. His next stint with Memphis also saw a swift end, thanks to a hip injury.

The 3x gold medalist would undergo one more season-ending left ankle surgery in his time with Portland before he finally lands with the Raptors 905. In his 8 NBA years, Justise Winslow played just 344 games, missing an average of 39 per season. Although this injury history has slowed his progress, JW brings defense and versatility to a Bucks team that could benefit from it.

For one, his playmaking ability would go hand-in-hand with Giannis Antetokounmpo. It allows for more offensive options for bench units. The ex-McDonald’s All-American might not be a high-volume scorer, but his passing and ability to initiate offense from the wing would add value.

Furthermore, Justise Winslow, with his experience playing in high-stakes situations, can provide depth to the Milwaukee Bucks’ second unit. Considering the team has seen injuries taking hold of key players recently, Justise’s ability to fill multiple roles could be a real advantage, as well. Also, his time with Damian Lillard in Portland should make the transition that much easier.

Hence, if Justise Winslow can stay healthy and carve out a role as a defensive specialist, he might just find a career resurgence in a championship team.

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.