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Milwaukee Bucks spoil Nigel Hayes-Davis' return to Wisconsin after trade from Suns

Nigel Hayes-Davis was set to play basketball in Wisconsin again after the Phoenix Suns traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks. Now, he won't get the chance.
Lorin Cox|
Former Wisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes-Davis (21) was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks after being traded by the Phoenix Suns.
Former Wisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes-Davis (21) was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks after being traded by the Phoenix Suns. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Nigel Hayes-Davis' career with the Milwaukee Bucks lasted only slightly longer than Sam Dekker's momentary Bucks tenure.

Both former Wisconsin Badgers stars were traded to the Bucks but part of the team for less than 24 hours.

Hayes-Davis was sent to Milwaukee at Thursday's NBA trade deadline in a deal with the Phoenix Suns. Once the deal was made official, the Bucks waived him.

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It's similar to 2018, when the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Dekker to the Bucks, who quickly flipped Dekker to the Wizards before he officially joined the team in Milwaukee.

Hayes-Davis had played in 27 games with the Suns before being traded. He avearged 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in just over seven minutes played per game.

Now, he'll have the chance to sign with any team that might be interested in him.

Phoenix was his first opportunity back in the NBA after dominating EuroLeague basketball. His performances there led Phoenix to give him a shot, and he has to hope that more teams are interested now that he's available.

Related: Former Badgers breakout star traded to Boston Celtics in NBA trade deadline deal

At Wisconsin, he was a three-time All-Big Ten player and was the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year in 2014.

Hayes-Davis was a key part of the Badgers runs to the Final Four in 2014 and 2015.

He wasn't the only former Wisconsin player traded on Thursday in the NBA.

The Utah Jazz also traded former Badgers guard John Tonje to the Boston Celtics. He had been playing for their G-League affiliate and has yet to make his NBA regular season debut.

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Lorin Cox
LORIN COX

Lorin Cox is the managing editor of Wisconsin Badgers on SI. He has been covering Badgers sports since 2014, when he was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin. He previously wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal, NBC Sports Chicago and USA Today Sports Media Group, and he is a former analyst for Pro Football Focus.

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