LAS VEGAS — It’s always interesting to see the reaction in the media seats at NBA Summer League when news breaks. When the news came down about Gary Trent re-signing with the Bucks for four years, $64 million (a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN), the reaction was something like this.
Trent had been on back-to-back minimum contracts and regressed last season, then he lands this deal? This is a fully guaranteed contract, no options. The Bucks and Trent’s representatives looked at sign-and-trade options before settling on this deal, reports Charania. Okay.
This is a dramatic overpay for Trent and his production, and while the size of the contract falls right into the sweet spot for potential trades, good luck trading that long a deal for a couple of years.
Last season, Trent was on a minimum deal with the Bucks and averaged 8.1 points per game, shooting 36% from 3, playing about 21 minutes per night.
The Bucks have all the guards, it seems. We’ll call Trent 6'5" a wing, and in the mix for that role is Tyler Herro, Caris LeVert, Jamie Jaquiez Jr. and just drafted Brayden Burries, who has looked pretty good at Summer League. The Bucks are stockpiling talent and picks in the hope of drafting or trading for their next star in the coming seasons as they move on from the Giannis Antetokounmpo era.
