The NBA has opened an investigation into Gary Trent Jr.’s new contract with the Milwaukee Bucks after questions were raised about how the deal came together.
League officials are reviewing Trent’s four-year, $64 million contract for possible salary cap circumvention, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The agreement was officially submitted and announced by Milwaukee on Thursday, but the NBA is now examining whether there was any violation of the league’s collective bargaining agreement before free agency.
The investigation centers around the CBA’s clause prohibiting a “prior agreement,” with the league looking into whether there was an understanding between Trent and the Bucks before he officially became a free agent, according to Charania.
The timing of Trent’s contract has drawn attention around the league. After signing for the veteran minimum in 2024, he later agreed to a two-year, $7.5 million deal with Milwaukee before the 2025-26 season. That contract established his early Bird rights, allowing the Bucks to offer him a much larger deal despite already being over the salary cap.
Trent declined his player option this offseason and is now set to earn $15.2 million during the upcoming campaign.
Rival executives had expected Trent to remain in Milwaukee for months after he played below what many around the league believed was his true market value. Once his early Bird rights were in place, the Bucks were able to reward him with a long-term contract worth significantly more than many expected he would receive on the open market.
Charania also reported that at least one NBA team had explored acquiring Trent through a sign-and-trade before he ultimately agreed to remain with Milwaukee.
The contract comes despite Trent posting one of the quietest statistical seasons of his career. The 27-year-old averaged 8.1 points while shooting 38.7 percent from the field during the 2025-26 season, his lowest scoring average since appearing in just 15 games as a rookie with the Portland Trail Blazers. One year earlier, however, he averaged 11.1 points on 43 percent shooting and impressed during Milwaukee’s playoff run.
If the league determines no rules were broken, Trent’s contract will remain in place. However, there is historical precedent for severe punishment.
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