The Milwaukee Bucks may have avoided making the trade of the season by retaining star Giannis Antetokounmpo, but that doesn't mean they're done adding to the team. 

Free agent guard Cam Thomas singed a deal on Sunday to join the Milwaukee Bucks. Thomas, a 24-year-old guard, is averaging 15.6 points, 1.8 rebound and 3.1 rebounds in 24 games this season coming off the bench. 

Thomas was waived by the Brooklyn Nets after the trade deadline after playing three seasons with Brooklyn. It was a shocking move considering Thomas' production this season that the Nets couldn't make a deal to at least exchange Thomas for something at the deadline, but his waiving meant that the Bucks were able to take advantage.

Thomas was the Nets' first-round pick in the 2021 Draft, 27th overall. He's been a reliable offensive piece for the Nets in the past five seasons, which made his sudden waiving so surprising. 

This season has admittedly been a down year for Thomas when it comes to shooting as he has just 39.9% field goal percentage and his points per game are down almost nine points from his career-high clip of 24 points per game that he hit last season, but he still has potential to be a spark plug coming off the bench.  

Thomas will definitely add some excitement to what's been an otherwise middling Bucks offense throughout the season. Now that Milwaukee has made the decision to keep Antetokounmpo instead of trying to acquire some picks or supplemental players, there's more pressure than ever for Milwaukee to enter "win now" mode. 

With Antetokounmpo becoming a free agent at the end of the season, the Bucks will have to prove to their franchise star that the team is gearing up to become competitive again. 

Acquiring Thomas is the first step in that project of regaining their competitiveness, and frankly it's a steal for the Bucks to pick up the young guard. 

Even if things don't go the Bucks' way when it comes to the Antetokounmpo free agency sweepstakes, acquiring a young guard like Thomas helps set up the Bucks for future success. 

With the Bucks facing multiple weeks without Antetokounmpo due it injury, investing in their depth will be crucially needed. 

It wasn't the player's deal that anyone was expecting the Bucks to make this past week, but it's certainly a deal that pay off for the Bucks going forward.