Gary Trent Jr. will be playing the 2024-25 season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN is reporting that Trent Jr. is joining the team on a one-year deal. The 25-year-old was seen as one of the best free agents remaining prior to being signed today. Since Milwaukee is operating over the second tax apron, they can only offer minimum-salary contracts. It is somewhat surprising that Trent Jr. is accepting that offer, but he will enter free agency again next offseason.
Free agent G Gary Trent Jr. has agreed on a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, Rich Paul and Lucas Newton of @klutchsports tell ESPN. Trent reunites with Damian Lillard and joins a Bucks organization that recruited him hard to chase a title with them. pic.twitter.com/jXmQuCcRMx
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 16, 2024
Bucks Look To Have Replaced Malik Beasley With Gary Trent
Rejoining His Former Teammate Damian Lillard With Bucks
Now six seasons deep into his NBA career, Trent Jr. was selected with the 37th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He spent his first two full seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers and was a teammate of current Milwaukee player Damian Lillard. After playing sparingly as a rookie, Trent Jr. played 21.8 minutes per game in his second season. During his third season (2020-21), the six-foot-five guard was traded along with Rodney Hood to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Norman Powell.
Trent Jr. played 17 games for Toronto in 2020-21 and has been with the team each of the following three seasons. Last season, he appeared in 71 games (41 starts). Trent Jr.’s per game averages consisted of 13.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals. He shot 39.3% from three-point range, his best mark in a season with the Raptors. The scoring average from 2023-24 was less than the previous two seasons which included a career-high of 18.3 in 2021-22.
In 341 career regular season games (201 starts), Trent Jr. has averages of 14.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 steals. His career shooting splits are .422/.386/.819. Trent Jr. is the son of Gary Trent, a nine-year NBA veteran from 1995-96 until 2003-04.
Starting Spot Available For Trent Jr.?
Last season, Malik Beasley started 77 games for the Bucks at shooting guard. He is no longer on the team as the 27-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Pistons this offseason. Trent Jr. looks like he will be the most likely candidate to fill his starting role. Both players are high-volume three-point shooters, and Trent Jr. already has playing experience with Lillard even if it has been four seasons since they last played together.
The Trent Jr. signing helps a Milwaukee team that has had somewhat of a quiet offseason. Prior to bringing in Trent Jr., they signed two outside free agents to veteran’s minimum contracts (Taurean Prince and Delon Wright).
