Recently-Cut Bucks Forward Signs With East Rival Cavaliers

Feb 3, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Ducas (88) fights for a rebound with Milwaukee Bucks forward Tyler Smith (21) and forward Chris Livingston (7) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Bucks have lost a little-used former draft pick to a loathed Eastern Conference rival.

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Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Cleveland Cavaliers have inked third-year forward Chris Livingston to a two-way contract.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and forward Chris Livingston have agreed to a two-way deal, league sources told @hoopshype. The 22-year-old forward spent the past two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. Livingston also averaged 18.1 points on 63% true shooting in the G League last season. pic.twitter.com/8JaY9vN6bN

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) October 31, 2025

Livingston, an Akron native, was waived by the Bucks on Oct. 16, just five days prior to the official start of the 2025-26 NBA season, after agreeing to a one-year, $2.3 million, fully guaranteed deal with the club in July.

The Bucks selected the 6-foot-6 Livingston, now 22, with the No. 58 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of the University of Virginia. He never quite cracked Rivers' or Adrian Griffin's rotations in Milwaukee, ultimately averaging 1.3 points on .408/.008/.750 shooting splits in just 42 games across his two seasons in town.

Livingston did, however, enjoy a robust showing in the G League. Across 18 games with the Wisconsin Herd, the Bucks' NBAGL affiliate in Oshkosh, Livingston averaged 18.1 points on .485/.301/.828 shooting splits, 8.2 boards, 2.0 dimes and 1.1 swipes across 29.5 minutes a night.

Chris Livingston's New NBA Home

Now, Livingston will get a new opportunity to play for an Eastern Conference contender closer to home. He'll be toggled between Cleveland proper and the club's NBAGL affiliate, the Cleveland Charge. Two-way signings are only permitted to play up to 50 games for their club's NBA team before their deals are converted to standard contracts.

Given the depth and talent on the Cavaliers, it's unlikely that Livingston will even approach that number this year unless he takes a major development leap. For now, he'll get lots of time with the Charge.

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Milwaukee needed to accommodate two end-of-roster veteran pieces that head coach Doc Rivers clearly prioritized, guard Andre Jackson Jr. and swingman Amir Coffey. Coffey, of course, is the more direct Livingston replacement, positionally speaking.

Coffey has been a consistent rotation piece off the bench for the Bucks this year, averaging 11.0 minutes per. He hasn't been leaned upon to score much, however, and is instead being used primarily as a perimeter defender. He's averaging just 2.3 points on .556/.250/1.000 shooting splits, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.7 assists a night.

For more news and notes on the Milwaukee Bucks, visit Milwaukee Bucks on SI.