Bucks rumors: The $45 million pre-draft Gary Trent Jr. rumbles that turned into shocking $64 million contract

The Milwaukee Bucks have made no shortage of headlines this offseason. However, one move that has generated leaguewide buzz is Gary Trent Jr’s new contract. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, pre-draft discussions around the league suggested Milwaukee was exploring a three-year deal worth roughly $45 million to retain the veteran guard. At the time, that figure already represented a significant raise for Trent. He had spent the previous two seasons with the Bucks on contracts worth less than $4 million annually. Instead, Trent and Klutch Sports ultimately secured a fully guaranteed four-year, $64 million contract.

The agreement reportedly caught the attention of rival executives. Many questioned both the contract’s total value and length after Trent averaged just 8.2 points per game while shooting a career-low 38.7 percent from the field in 2025-26. Speculation continues around how the league office could view such a substantial increase following consecutive bargain contracts. It seems the Bucks are betting that Trent can rediscover his two-way shooting form. He was, after all, once one of the league’s more coveted role players.

Trent’s NBA journey began when he was selected 37th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. He was then traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. He emerged as a reliable perimeter scorer in Portland before flourishing with the Toronto Raptors. That’s where he averaged a career-high 18.3 points during the 2021-22 season. After two seasons in Milwaukee, his production dipped considerably. That said, the Bucks nevertheless committed to him with a long-term deal. It now stands among the most surprising contracts of the 2026 offseason.

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