The Milwaukee Bucks signed former Sixers forward Johni Broome to a training camp deal, the team announced today. Milwaukee signed Broome by waiving seven-foot center John Butler Jr., who spent time with the team during the Summer League.
Broome was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 35th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, but he spent most of his time with the Delaware Blue Coats on a two-way deal. There he averaged 21.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.5 BPG, and 1.1 SPG in 26 games before undergoing surgery
to repair a meniscus tear in February.
Yet, despite dominating in college with Auburn and playing well with the Blue Coats, Broome struggled in his rookie season. He made just 11 appearances for the Sixers last year, posting 0.9 points and 1.5 boards, mainly in garbage time. Moreover, he has yet to develop a consistent perimeter shot—he shot just 22.9% from beyond the arc in the G League—and remains somewhat undersized. As such, the brand of bully ball that made him a consensus All-American has largely failed him in the NBA, and although he’s produced consistently in the G League, it remains to be seen if he can develop into the high-floor, high-IQ rotational big scouts hoped for.
This offseason, Broome was traded along with a second-rounder to the Clippers to clear cap space ahead of their signing of guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Clippers then waived him a month later amid a roster crunch, leaving the former All-American forward without a team ahead of the 2026-27 season.
In order to make room for Broome, who will join Milwaukee on a non-guaranteed deal, the Bucks bid farewell to Butler. Butler joined the Wisconsin Herd after bouncing around the G League, averaging 9.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 1.7 BPG, and is expected to rejoin the Herd for the upcoming season.
Looking forward, Broome could compete for Milwaukee’s open two-way slot as the preseason continues. If he permanently joins the Bucks, he’d slot in behind a frontcourt rotation that includes Myles Turner, Kel’el Ware, and Jericho Sims at center—and a lot of unknowns at power forward. That depth could prove necessary ahead of a long, 82-game season.
