{"id":204805,"date":"2026-07-12T12:05:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T16:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=204805"},"modified":"2026-07-12T12:05:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T16:05:16","slug":"bucks-something-brewing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/07\/12\/bucks-something-brewing\/","title":{"rendered":"Bucks Have Something Brewing After Re-Signing Gary Trent Jr., What Is Next?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Milwaukee Bucks surprisingly re-signed <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/trentga02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gary Trent Jr<\/a>. to a multi-year deal yesterday. However, the move has several implications for the Bucks going forward, as they now have 17 players on standard contracts.<\/p>\n<p>Trent Jr. and the Bucks agreed to a four-year, $64 million deal. But that wasn&#8217;t before the Bucks exhausted the possibilities of a sign-and-trade, according to ESPN&#8217;s Shams Charania.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Bucks and Trent&#8217;s reps worked through negotiations since the NBA Finals ended in mid-June while also sorting through sign-and-trade possibilities from interested teams over the last week. The sides moved toward completing a new deal together Saturday. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jJuv80d3ov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/jJuv80d3ov<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ShamsCharania\/status\/2076055009989681312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 11, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Bucks Have Something Brewing After Re-Signing Gary Trent Jr., What Is Next?<\/h2>\n<p>Trent Jr. has seen his role reduced and his production dip since signing with the Bucks as a free agent in the summer of 2024. The 27-year-old is coming off his worst season, as he averaged 8.1 points on 38.7% shooting. He also made 1.9 threes at a 36% clip, which marks his lowest percentage since his rookie campaign when he only saw action in 15 contests. While the 6-5 wing averaged only 21 minutes per game, he scored in double figures 24 times, including four 20-point games and one 30-point effort. He also had the worst plus\/minus rating among the Bucks regulars (-5.4).<\/p>\n<p>Trent became a free agent after declining his $3.88 million player option earlier this summer. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hoopsrumors.com\/2026\/07\/bucks-re-signing-gary-trent-jr-to-four-year-deal.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sam Amick and Eric Nehm<\/a> of The Athletic believe that this fully guaranteed deal is a reward for Trent taking a minimum deal back in 2024 and then accepting a small raise last summer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"max-width: px\"><smartframe-embed class=\"smartframe_wp_element\" customer-id=\"b0c95bc04383cef69c6b47df872135cf\" image-id=\"WmOBeNGyXO8f\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 3072px; aspect-ratio: 3072\/2048;\" ><\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n<h3>How Does Trent Jr. Fit In With The Bucks Rebuild?<\/h3>\n<p>There was nothing that was not surprising about Trent&#8217;s new contract. If the Bucks wanted to reward Trent for his loyalty, good for him, but four guaranteed years for $64 million for a guy with diminishing production and who doesn&#8217;t necessarily fit the rebuild that the Bucks have started. Granted, he is only 27 and a reliable high-volume 3-point shooter.<\/p>\n<p>Trent will earn $14.5 million in 2027-28, making him the fourth-highest-earning player on the squad. He is the 12th player that Milwaukee has either acquired via the draft, trade, or free agency, even if it was just a re-signing. However, just six of those acquisitions are newcomers.<\/p>\n<p>Milwaukkee has 17 players on standard contracts, with 16 fully guaranteed, for a salary cap hit of $190.3 million. Thus, leaving them $10 million below the tax threshold. They don&#8217;t figure to get anywhere close to the tax this year. Eight of the 17 players are 25 or younger.<\/p>\n<p>Trent figures to come off the bench for new head coach Taylor Jenkins. He is an ideal fit for Jenkins&#8217; system that emphasizes spacing and versatility on the defensive end.<\/p>\n<p>Trent is elite at static spacing and knows when to lift\u2014he is a very good shooter off the catch and has knocked down 40% of his corner threes for his career. He also doesn&#8217;t make mistakes and can guard all three backcourt spots.<\/p>\n<p>While Milwaukee has a lot of things to figure out, Trent will likely compete with <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/burribr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brayden Burries<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/leverca01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Caris LeVert<\/a> for the top reserve spots on the wing. The Bucks took Burries, 20, with the 10th pick in this year&#8217;s draft, and though he averages 15.0 points through his first two summer league contests, he has struggled shooting the ball. LeVert, who was acquired in an equally surprising trade with Detroit, is also coming off a career-worst campaign.<\/p>\n<p>So, the big picture is that the Bucks will have to make a roster move or two before opening night. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kuzmaky01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyle Kuzma<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/turnemy01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Myles Turner<\/a>, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/herroty01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyler Herro<\/a> are circulating in\u00a0the rumor mill as potential trade candidates.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/26\/tyler-herro-future-flux\/\" target=\"_self\">Herro is in the final year of his dea<\/a>l and is slated to make $33 million. But he is a Milwaukkee native, and the Bucks could use an established veteran to build around.<\/p>\n<p><span>&#8220;More specifically, league sources say there is strong interest in Herro, and the Bucks will consider sending him elsewhere<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7010756\/2026\/06\/22\/giannis-antetokounmpo-nba-trade-bucks-heat\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">, Eric Nehm and Sam Amick of The Athletic<\/a> said at the time of Herro&#8217;s acquisition. The Bucks, per a team source, are also considering keeping Herro.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Kuzma, on an expiring $20.3 million pact, has been <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/12\/16\/will-the-milwaukee-bucks-be-buyers-or-sellers-at-nba-trade-deadline-veteran-forward-potential-target\/\" target=\"_self\">rumored to be on the market since February&#8217;s trade deadline.<\/a> Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/23\/myles-turner-raptors\/\" target=\"_self\">Turner had a disastrous first season<\/a> with the Bucks after signing a huge free agent contract last summer. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wareke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kel&#8217;el Ware<\/a> reportedly garnered interest from teams.<\/p>\n<p>Kuzma or Herro are the most likely to be dealt. LeVert, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/simsje01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jericho Sims,<\/a> and<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/porteke02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Kevin Porter Jr.<\/a> are also on expiring contracts, while <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jaqueja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jaime Jaquez Jr<\/a>. could be headed to restricted free agency if the Bucks don&#8217;t extend him.<\/p>\n<p>If Milwaukee doesn&#8217;t pull off a trade,<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/n\/nancepe01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Pete Nance<\/a> projects to be one of the casualties. Nance is on a non-guaranteed $2.5 million deal. Sims would also be in jeopardy if they needed to waive someone.<\/p>\n<p><span>Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Milwaukee Bucks surprisingly re-signed Gary Trent Jr. to a multi-year deal yesterday. However, the move has several implications for the Bucks going forward, as they now have 17 players on standard contracts. Trent Jr. and the Bucks agreed to a four-year, $64 million deal. But that wasn&#8217;t before the Bucks exhausted the possibilities of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":204896,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,2,15,62,3,4721],"tags":[1623,49143,1128,637,3840,1896],"class_list":["post-204805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-featured","category-bucks","category-nba","category-news","category-trade-rumors","tag-gary-trent-jr","tag-kelel-ware","tag-kyle-kuzma","tag-myles-turner","tag-taylor-jenkins","tag-tyler-herro"],"modified_by":"Daniel Benjamin, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=204805"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204805\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":204899,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204805\/revisions\/204899"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/204896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=204805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=204805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=204805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}