If the Milwaukee Bucks are going to get back to playing the elite defense that helped them win their first NBA title in 50 years, Gary Trent Jr. could be essential to their success.
Bucks Free Agent Find Gary Trent Jr. Could Become Future Fixture
Milwaukee was able to sign Trent for a bargain this offseason, the byproduct of a perfect storm.
The former second-round pick averaged 13.7 points and 1.1 steals per game on 39.3 percent from three, numbers which are pretty solid in a vacuum. However, as he posted 17.9 points and 1.7 steals per game the prior two seasons, it was a bit of a letdown. Numbers aside, Trent wasn’t as sharp as he could’ve been, especially at the less glamorous end. While typically regarded as one of the league’s better defenders, he allowed a bit too much perimeter penetration.
Ultimately, he was playing on a bad team and below his standards. Yet, the Raptors were interested in re-signing him for around $15 million annually, according to TSN reporter Josh Lewenberg. Trent just misstepped when he asked for around $25 million annually. So, he had to enter free agency after a down year and with high salary expectations.
Per SportsNet’s Blake Murphy, all that he received were offers from the minimum to mid-level.
Dame & Doc
Only one of the teams interested in Trent had Damian Lillard, whom he played alongside with the Portland Trail Blazers for the first two-plus seasons of his career. Speaking with Sportskeeda’s Grant Afseth, Trent says that joining a team with Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo is “second to none.”
The 25-year-old’s longstanding relationship with Bucks head coach Doc Rivers is also noteworthy.
“I’ve known Doc since I was about eight years old,” Trent reveals. “I was in his championship locker rooms back in (2008) with the (Boston) Celtics as a kid, so seeing him now, it’s a full-circle moment. It’s been a blessing to play for him…”
His familiarity with Lillard and Rivers may not be enough to keep him in Milwaukee after his contract expires. For one, Lillard and Rivers have only been there about a year themselves. Furthermore, neither of them can play for Trent, and Trent’s performance will be the single-largest determinant in whether he’s re-signed. That doesn’t mean that Trent isn’t already visualizing a future in Milwaukee though.
“It’s a great opportunity,” he says of signing with the Bucks. “I’m 25, and I still have years left to grow. This is a great place to find a home base and be part of something long-term. It’s an excellent organization with great players, a solid front office, and good energy…”
A Quiet Competition
If Trent plays as well as he’s hoping, he might just price himself out of the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Next summer, the Bucks are projected to be $21.9 million over the salary cap. Without finding a trade for Khris Middleton, who’ll be paid $34 million in 2025-26 unless he declines his player option, it would be virtually impossible to sign Trent to an eight-figure contract as they don’t have his Bird Rights. So, in a way, 2024-25 is a competition between Trent and Middleton.
Middleton is an all-around player who has played at an All-Star level when healthy. However, he’s struggled to stay on the court recently, playing 88 games over the past two regular seasons. Furthermore, his defense is declining due to his age and compounding injuries.
With that being said, the defense-for-offense trade that landed Lillard with the Bucks has made it tougher for them to stop players at the point of attack. Should Trent secure the perimeter, consistently slowing down opposing ball-handlers, the effects could be wide-ranging. Frankly, on a team with Lillard, Antetokoumpo, and Middleton, Trent’s defense will matter more than how many points he puts up.
