{"id":94402,"date":"2024-09-05T10:41:36","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T14:41:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=94402"},"modified":"2024-09-05T10:41:36","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T14:41:36","slug":"milwaukee-bucks-sign-the-best-2024-offseason-deal-in-gary-trent-jr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/05\/milwaukee-bucks-sign-the-best-2024-offseason-deal-in-gary-trent-jr\/","title":{"rendered":"The Milwaukee Bucks Had the Best 2024 Offseason Signing\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Milwaukee Bucks seem <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/23\/is-this-central-division-team-a-dark-horse-for-the-title\/\" target=\"_self\">overlooked<\/a> as the 2024-25 NBA season approaches. Just a year ago, they <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/24\/3-nba-players-with-a-lot-to-prove-this-season\/\" target=\"_self\">traded<\/a> for <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lillada01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Damian Lillard<\/a>, creating massive hype. However, their back-to-back first-round playoff exits, along with another playoff injury to <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetgi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>, have <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/21\/espn-predicts-nba-eastern-conference-standings-for-2024-25\/\" target=\"_self\">lessened<\/a> the excitement surrounding them. Quietly though, the Milwaukee Bucks have <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/16\/bucks-look-to-have-replaced-malik-beasley-with-signing-gary-trent-jr\/\" target=\"_self\">signed<\/a> the best deal of the 2024 offseason in <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/trentga02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gary Trent Jr.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>The Milwaukee Bucks Had the Best 2024 Offseason Signing<\/h2>\n<p>Other teams in the Eastern Conference have made <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/31\/grading-every-eastern-conference-teams-offseason\/\" target=\"_self\">headlines<\/a> with significant moves. The Philadelphia 76ers <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/05\/is-the-76ers-acquiring-paul-george-a-good-or-desperate-move\/\" target=\"_self\">signed<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/georgpa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paul George<\/a>, creating a new Big Three. The New York Knicks traded for <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bridgmi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mikal Bridges<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/20\/mikal-bridges-fits-the-knicks-perfectly\/\" target=\"_self\">adding<\/a> to their deep roster of talent. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/29\/will-loaded-celtics-break-the-kd-repeat-curse\/\" target=\"_self\">defending champion<\/a> Boston Celtics also kept their core players intact. All these changes have pushed the Bucks to the background.<\/p>\n<h3>Making the Most of the Little They Had<\/h3>\n<p>Despite the lack of attention, Milwaukee has quietly made impressive moves this offseason. One of the Bucks&#8217; biggest wins was signing Gary Trent Jr. to a minimum contract. This move went under the radar, but it significantly strengthened the team\u2019s roster. If their stars stay healthy, the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/29\/the-4-nba-teams-who-have-not-made-a-trade-this-offseason-boston-celtics-milwaukee-bucks-cleveland-cavaliers-los-angeles-lakers\/\" target=\"_self\">Bucks<\/a> could find themselves back in the title race.<\/p>\n<p>Securing Trent Jr. was the best signing of the offseason. Every contending team searches for versatile wings who can score and defend, especially ones who can play key playoff minutes. Finding a player like Trent Jr. on a minimum contract was nearly impossible, but the Bucks pulled it off. He could be the missing piece they need to make a deep playoff run.<\/p>\n<p>Trent Jr., just 25 years old, brings an impressive resume to Milwaukee. Over the last four seasons, he\u2019s <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/player\/1629018\/gary-trent-jr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">averaged<\/a> 16.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He\u2019s shot 38.3% from beyond the arc and has proven himself on both ends of the court.<\/p>\n<h3>Trent Jr&#8217;s Fit on the Milwaukee Bucks<\/h3>\n<p>He\u2019ll replace <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/beaslma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Malik Beasley<\/a>, a solid shooter but a weak defender. Beasley\u2019s defensive struggles were a major issue, especially when playing alongside Lillard. Trent Jr. offers better defense while still being a reliable shooter. His defense could improve further with less offensive responsibility, although he won\u2019t be an elite defender.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/28\/milwaukee-bucks-becomes-5th-nba-team-to-fill-2024-25-roster-in-depth-look-at-bucks-training-camp-roster\/\" target=\"_self\">Bucks<\/a> faced an offseason challenge, needing to add depth with only minimum contracts available. In addition to Gary Trent Jr., the Bucks signed <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/princta02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Taurean Prince<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wrighde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Delon Wright<\/a>, giving head coach <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/coaches\/riverdo01c.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Doc Rivers<\/a> more lineup options. Credit goes to general manager <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/executives\/horstjo01x.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jon Horst<\/a> and the front office for improving the roster under tight financial constraints.<\/p>\n<p>Though Trent Jr. has limited playoff experience, with just 11 games under his belt, he\u2019s still developing. He\u2019s determined to make a significant impact this season, hoping to secure a bigger contract next summer. The Bucks will rely on him to fill their need for a 3-and-D wing, and he\u2019ll get plenty of opportunities to prove himself.<\/p>\n<h3>The Last Word<\/h3>\n<p>Milwaukee faces a high-stakes 2024-2025 season. If the Bucks fail again, changes will likely follow, possibly even the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/15\/the-bucks-should-consider-a-rebuild-if-they-have-another-disappointing-season\/\" target=\"_self\">departure<\/a> of some star players. However, they\u2019ve assembled the right pieces. It\u2019s now up to the team to deliver on their potential.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Milwaukee Bucks seem overlooked as the 2024-25 NBA season approaches. Just a year ago, they traded for Damian Lillard, creating massive hype. However, their back-to-back first-round playoff exits, along with another playoff injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo, have lessened the excitement surrounding them. Quietly though, the Milwaukee Bucks have signed the best deal of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":94414,"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":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,5,15,12,13],"tags":[49059,49402,187,661,190,1623,306,49207,293,1484,50,1383],"class_list":["post-94402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-celtics","category-bucks","category-knicks","category-76ers","tag-2024-nba-free-agents","tag-2024-2025-season","tag-damian-lillard","tag-delon-wright","tag-doc-rivers","tag-gary-trent-jr","tag-giannis-antetokounmpo","tag-jon-horst","tag-malik-beasley","tag-mikal-bridges","tag-paul-george","tag-taurean-prince"],"modified_by":"Eamon Cassels, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94402","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\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94402"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94402\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}