NBA Investigates Gary Trent Jr.’s $64 Million Bucks Contract for Potential Wage Cap Violation

The NBA has opened an investigation into Gary Trent Jr.’s new four-year, $64 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks over attainable wage cap circumvention, in response to a league spokesperson who spoke with ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Gary Trent Jr.’s Bucks Contract Sparks NBA Probe

The deal was formally submitted to the NBA after the Bucks introduced Trent’s return on Thursday. The investigation will concentrate on whether or not the contract adopted the league’s collective bargaining settlement guidelines, which embrace a rule towards attainable “prior agreements” between groups and gamers.

Trent, 27, acquired a serious enhance in wage regardless of having one of many lowest statistical seasons of his profession. According to the NY Post, throughout the 2025-26 season, he averaged 8.1 factors per recreation whereas capturing 38.7% from the sector, his lowest numbers since his rookie yr with the Portland Trail Blazers.

The contract has drawn consideration due to the distinction between Trent’s current efficiency and the dimensions of his new deal. Before signing the extension, Trent had performed for Milwaukee underneath smaller contracts.

He joined the Bucks in 2024 on a league-minimum deal and later signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract earlier than the 2025-26 season.

NBA Reviews Gray Trent Deal

That earlier settlement helped the Bucks acquire early hen rights, permitting them to re-sign Trent even whereas being over the wage cap.

After selecting to say no his participant choice, Trent grew to become a free agent and is now set to earn $15.2 million subsequent season, ESPN reported.

Around the league, some executives had anticipated Trent to return to Milwaukee due to the staff’s capacity to supply him a bigger contract by way of these rights. However, the sudden soar in wage has led to questions on whether or not there was any settlement made earlier than the official contract.

The NBA’s collective bargaining guidelines prohibit groups and gamers from making hidden offers involving future contracts or extensions.

The league has investigated comparable conditions earlier than, together with the 2000 case involving the Minnesota Timberwolves and Joe Smith. In that case, the NBA discovered an unlawful settlement and later voided the contract.

Trent’s state of affairs has additionally acquired consideration due to his function on a crowded Bucks roster. Milwaukee added a number of guards throughout the offseason, together with Tyler Herro and Caris LeVert, whereas additionally conserving gamers akin to Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., and AJ Green.