The NBA has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Gary Trent Jr.‘s recent contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. The signing, which was officially announced on Thursday, is being scrutinized for potential circumvention of salary cap rules.
An NBA spokesperson confirmed that the league is continuing to look into the matter. Reports indicate that the investigation centres on whether a prior agreement existed to reward Trent Jr. with a substantial contract now, following his signing of below-market deals with the Bucks in the previous two years.
While the Bucks did not disclose the terms of the agreement, reports suggest Trent Jr. signed a four-year, $64 million deal. This lucrative contract follows a season in which his on-court statistics saw a decline.
Trent Jr.’s recent performance and contract history
In the 2025-26 season, Trent Jr. averaged 8.1 points per game and played 21.2 minutes per game for Milwaukee. These figures represent his lowest averages in both categories since his rookie season in 2018-19.
The 6-foot-4 guard initially joined the Bucks in 2024, signing for the veteran minimum. This move came after a season with the Toronto Raptors where he averaged 13.7 points per game and shot 39.3 per cent from three-point range.
He returned to the Bucks in 2025, where he averaged 11.1 points per game and shot 41.6 per cent from three-point range during the 2024-25 season. Trent Jr. concluded that 2024-25 season by scoring over 30 points in two of the Bucks’ five playoff games, despite their first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The contract Trent Jr. signed in 2025 included a $3.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season. He declined this option before agreeing to the current extension, which is now under investigation.
Broader context of NBA investigations
This probe into Trent Jr.’s contract is not the only investigation currently underway by the NBA regarding salary cap circumvention. The league is also examining whether the Los Angeles Clippers bypassed salary cap rules concerning a $28 million endorsement contract involving seven-time All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard and a now-bankrupt sustainability services company.
The investigation into the Clippers’ situation has reportedly put Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors on hold. While the specific circumstances of the two investigations differ, both highlight the league’s focus on maintaining salary cap integrity.
The concept of players taking discounts to help build competitive teams has been a topic of discussion. John Calipari recently recalled a historical instance from 1994 involving the Phoenix Suns and Danny Manning. In that case, the Suns, with limited cap space, signed Manning to a smaller initial deal with an understanding from owner Jerry Colangelo that a larger contract would follow.
Despite Manning suffering a significant injury midway through his first season, Colangelo reportedly honoured his word, signing Manning to a seven-year, $40 million extension in 1995. This historical example, which even included Manning receiving part ownership of the Diamondbacks, illustrates a past instance of a team and player operating with a prior understanding outside of immediate cap constraints.
Calipari suggested that such arrangements could be a viable approach for teams and players in the current era, particularly for stars willing to take discounts to form contenders. However, the NBA’s current investigations, including the one into Gary Trent Jr.’s extension, indicate a close examination of such practices to ensure compliance with league rules.
Implications for players and teams
The ongoing investigation into Trent Jr.’s contract could have implications for how teams structure deals and how players navigate free agency, especially when considering short-term, below-market contracts with the expectation of future compensation. The league’s scrutiny aims to prevent any arrangements that could undermine the competitive balance intended by the salary cap.
The outcome of this investigation will provide further clarity on the permissible boundaries for contract negotiations and the extent to which prior agreements, not immediately reflected in official contract terms, are allowed. The NBA’s inquiry into the Milwaukee Bucks’ signing of Gary Trent Jr. was officially announced on Thursday.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
