Bucks frontrunners to sign Austin Rivers after being waived by Thunder

The Milwaukee Bucks are expected to make a run at veteran Austin Rivers as they prepare to contend for the NBA championship this summer.

The Oklahoma City Thunder decided to waive the newly acquired Austin Rivers, sources told Shams Charania of The Athletic on Sunday afternoon.

The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly the favorites to sign Rivers once he clears waivers and would also be an ideal landing spot for the veteran.

The Thunder received Rivers via trade from the New York Knicks as part of the three-team deal that sent George Hill to the Philadelphia 76ers at the deadline last Thursday.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports mutual interest between Austin Rivers and the Bucks

According to Charania, there is mutual interest between Rivers and the Bucks. Milwaukee could be looking for more depth at the point guard spot behind Jrue Holiday, and Rivers brings added experience there. The Bucks shipped D.J. Augustin out in their P.J. Tucker trade.

He’s under contract through 2023, though the next two years of his deal are non-guaranteed. The Knicks brought him on in a sign-and-trade back in November. While in New York, he played in 21 games, averaging 7.3 points and 2.2 rebounds a night on 43 percent shooting. Rivers hasn’t played since Feb. 13, which was days after the Knicks traded for veteran point guard and former league MVP Derrick Rose.

Rivers has played for five teams in his nine NBA seasons but has proven himself to be able to play solid minutes in the league.

If completed, does this move make Milwaukee any more formidable against the likes of the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, who seem to add a new player every week? Only time will tell, but the second half of the season is sure to be an interesting one.