Milwaukee Bucks request waivers on former UW star Bronson Koenig

The Milwaukee Bucks were quick to sign players to two-way contracts this summer, inking rookies Bronson Koenig and Jalen Moore in early July.

As of Thursday, neither is with the team anymore.

Moore parted with the Bucks on Sept. 10 and on Thursday, the Bucks announced they had requested waivers on Koenig as well. Koenig averaged 5.2 points on 29.4% shooting over 15.8 minutes per game during Milwaukee's five-game stint in the Las Vegas Summer League.

By requesting waivers on the former University of Wisconsin standout, the Bucks have both of their two-way contracts open. Those contracts allow designated players to spend most of their time with the Bucks' G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, and get called up to the Bucks for no more than 45 days during the season. In essence, those two-way contracts represent flexible 16th and 17th spots on the NBA roster.

With Koenig out, the Bucks will certainly monitor the free-agent pool to fill their vacant two-way spots. Rookies, like Moore and Koenig, aren't the only ones who can fill those slots; rather, any player with three years or less of NBA experience would qualify for two-way consideration and a player with more experience could prove to be a more valuable asset.

Of the Bucks' other training-camp invitees, only James Young, a 22-year-old, 6-foot-6 wing, and undrafted rookie guard JeQuan Lewis are eligible for two-way contracts. Young, the 17th overall pick in the 2014 draft who signed a training camp contract with the Bucks on Sept. 6, spent his first three seasons with the Boston Celtics before joining the Bucks.

Thursday's move may not necessarily spell the end of Koenig's time with the franchise. Provided he clears waivers, he will be able to sign with any interested team, including the Herd.

After working out extensively with the Bucks and Herd in Milwaukee, it's possible that the Herd, which spent the summer planning for Koenig to be part of the team, could make a move to sign Koenig on a G League contract instead of a two-way provided. As a free agent, though, he could choose to go elsewhere if he receives a better offer from an NBA, G League or international team.