Reports are out that several NBA teams are interested in acquiring the services of incoming third-year power forward Johnny O'Bryant following his release from his mother club Milwaukee Bucks six days after last June's draft.
The 23-year-old former LSU standout was the 36th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and was seen as one of the future stars in Milwaukee. Instead, he played off the shadows of more illustrious young teammates Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker, whom he competed for playing time in head coach Jason Kidd's frontcourt lineup.
O'Bryant played just 34 games during his rookie season, starting 15, and had averaged 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in only 10.8 minutes of playing time per night. Last season, things improved as he was utilized in 66 games, but had only started four times.
His averages of 3.0 points and 2.7 boards were virtually the same as his minutes slightly increased to 13.0 a night.
Soon after, the Bucks drafted 7-foot-1 Australian Thon Maker as the 10th overall pick this year and his backup role seemed to have faded away as Milwaukee saw him as already a dispensable part of their roster.
CBS Sports earlier reported that Milwaukee did not see O'Bryant "as a rotation player heading into the upcoming season" anymore and so he was waived "from the 15-man roster before his contract for 2016-17 became guaranteed" at the end of June.
However, Basketball Insiders indicated that "four or five" teams are interested in getting O'Bryant's services for next season, according to his agent Gerald Collier.
"We're still exploring our options," said Collier. "There are four or five teams that are showing interest. We want to get a roster spot, a guaranteed deal.''
The report noted, though, that a guaranteed roster spot would be a long shot at this point of the summer as most teams have "already filled out their rosters for next season". There were rumors that O'Bryant could consider accepting opportunities overseas if he cannot find a right deal in the US.
But the top priority is to still remain in the NBA, as per Collier.
"Our goal is stay in the league," the agent said. "Johnny has improved in each season he's been in the NBA and he's still young; he just turned 23 (on June 1)."
"We have received a lot of positive feedback, so we're staying patient. We'll see what happens," he added.
