Former Bucks defensive ace is surprisingly still treading free agency waters

It wasn't surprising when the Milwaukee Bucks didn't pick up Andre Jackson Jr.'s team option for the 2026-27 NBA season, but it is odd that no one has picked him up. While he was never the top target on anyone's free agent big board, the guard is still young and flashed potential in Milwaukee. It feels like he still has something to give if he's offered an opportunity.

Jackson has the tools to help a team

There will always be a place in the NBA for athletic wings who play defense. Heck, the Los Angeles Lakers just picked up two in Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle. While those two are much more established players, Jackson fits into that same category of player. Simply put, he's a defensive disruptor who can knock down the occasional triple to keep things interesting.

This is why the Milwaukee Bucks drafted Jackson in 2023 and tried to bring out his potential on so many occasions. Unfortunately for the team, they never quite unearthed the wing, who was often yanked in and out of the rotation throughout the tenures of Adrian Griffin and Doc Rivers. He went from starting in 43 games in 2024-25 to just one this past season. That's tough for development.

Yet, when he did play, the defense was undeniably appealing. Using his 6-foot-6 stature, Jackson was a pest no matter who he guarded. That alone made him a valuable commodity to this team, given that they were often starved of perimeter defense. Yet, for whatever reason, he never broke through to hit full-time rotation player status and now finds himself in uncertain waters.

Someone will likely grab Jackson

Before the NBA season starts, someone will want a 24-year-old defensive-minded wing. Perhaps teams that had an eye on Thybulle before he joined the Lakers could look into Jackson. It would be a perfect example of a low-risk signing, especially considering that the former second round pick still has one year of two-way eligibility left.

While another athletic wing would never hurt, a return to the Milwaukee Bucks is incredibly unlikely to be in Jackson's future. The Bucks are already loaded on the wing and do not have the roster room to house him. In fact, as they begin trimming the roster in the coming weeks, one or two of their wings will almost certainly be on the chopping block.

Jackson's story likely isn't over, but it won't continue with the Bucks.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.

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This article was originally published on behindthebuckpass.com as Former Bucks defensive ace is surprisingly still treading free agency waters.