Basketball
Basketball
League Investigates Bucks’ $64 Million Deal for Gary Trent Jr.
The NBA has confirmed it is “looking into” the four-year, $64 million contract signed by Gary Trent Jr. to rejoin the Milwaukee Bucks, an announcement made on the same day the team officially revealed the deal. This investigation follows immediate speculation from fans and media regarding potential salary cap circumvention.
The significant value of the fully guaranteed contract has raised eyebrows, particularly given Trent’s recent performance. He is coming off what has been described as the worst season of his career, with a statistical decline in the 2025-26 season. His previous two free agent contracts were for the minimum salary in 2024, followed by a 20% raise on that minimum through Non-Bird Rights in 2024.
The expectation, based on merit and the current tighter NBA financial landscape under the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement, was that Trent would secure a minimum or near-minimum deal. Instead, the $64 million agreement includes salaries of $15.2 million for 2026-27, $16.4 million for both 2027-28 and 2028-29, and $16 million in the final year. This stands in stark contrast to his sub-$4 million salary for the past two seasons.
The league’s probe will likely examine the circumstances surrounding the deal, especially considering the mechanisms teams use to exceed the salary cap, such as Bird Rights. These rights allow teams to offer escalating raises to players over time, culminating in full Bird Rights after three years, which permit offers up to the maximum salary. Trent’s previous contract was a three-year, $51 million deal, and his market had reportedly softened, with offers around the taxpayer mid-level exception before this new agreement materialized.
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