NBA Launches Probe into Bucks-Trent Jr. Contract
On July 16, 2026, the NBA confirmed it is investigating the Milwaukee Bucks' four-year, $64 million free-agent deal with guard Gary Trent Jr. for possible salary-cap circumvention.
A league spokesperson stated the office is probing the fully guaranteed contract that keeps Trent in Milwaukee. The agreement averages about $16 million per season.
Trent, 27, appeared in 65 games for the Bucks during the 2025-26 season, averaging 8.1 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.2 assists in 21.2 minutes per game. He shot 38.7 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from three-point range.
The deal raised eyebrows league-wide because Trent had signed low-value contracts, including minimum deals, with Milwaukee in the prior two seasons. The new pact represents a significant jump after a down statistical year.
Bucks officials have not publicly detailed the negotiations. The investigation focuses on whether any side agreements or prearranged terms violated Collective Bargaining Agreement rules designed to prevent teams from structuring deals to bypass cap restrictions.
Trent remains under contract and available to the team while the probe continues. No timeline for a resolution has been announced, and no penalties have been issued at this stage.
The signing was first agreed upon days earlier in free agency. The Bucks view Trent as a familiar perimeter option who can stretch the floor and provide scoring bursts off the bench or in the starting group depending on roster needs.
Immediate roster impact centers on Milwaukee retaining a known commodity rather than adding a new free agent. The front office now waits for the league's findings as the offseason moves forward.