Austin Rivers waived by Thunder, Bucks favorites for ex-Knick

Austin Rivers appears to be headed to Milwaukee.

The Athletic reported Sunday afternoon that the Thunder waived the 28-year-old guard, just three days after acquiring him from the Knicks as part of a three-team deal with the 76ers. The Bucks are now the leaders to sign Rivers, with strong mutual interest between both sides, per the report.

The Knicks acquired Rivers, who averaged roughly seven points per game over 21 appearances with New York, in a November sign-and-trade deal with the Rockets that also included the draft rights to guard Sergio Llull and forwards Tadija Dragicevic and Axel Hervelle. The Knicks gave Houston the draft rights to guard Issuf Sanon.

Rivers, who was injured during the preseason, showed a few flashes of promising play early in the season but was moved out of the rotation when the Knicks traded for Derrick Rose in February. Rivers has not been with the team since the All-Star break while on paternity leave.

So before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, the Knicks sent Rivers to Oklahoma City and Ignas Brazdeikis to Philadelphia, in exchange for Terrance Ferguson, Vincent Poirier and the 76ers’ 2021 second-round pick. The Thunder sent guard George Hill to Philadelphia and the 76ers shipped Tony Bradley to Oklahoma City.

Rivers, taken No. 10 overall by the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans in the 2012 NBA draft, is on to his fourth team in the last three seasons. He bounced from the Wizards to the Rockets during 2018-19 before landing with the Knicks this season.