Gary Trent Jr. spent 2 seasons playing on discounted contracts in Milwaukee while waiting for a larger payday. He finally secured it after the weakest statistical season of his Bucks tenure.
Milwaukee agreed to retain the 27 year old guard on a reported 4 year, $64 million contract. Shams Charania reported the agreement after Trent declined his $3.9 million player option and entered unrestricted free agency. The new deal will pay him an average of $16 million per season.
The timing makes Milwaukee’s decision difficult to ignore. Trent averaged 8.1 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.2 assists last season while shooting 38.7% from the field. His accuracy from 3 point range fell from 41.6% in 2024 25 to 36.0% in 2025 26.
Milwaukee did not reward Trent for his latest production. The Bucks paid for the belief that his established shooting record will return as they reshape the roster around a new collection of guards and wings.
Milwaukee Is Banking on His Shooting History
Trent still offers the skill every NBA offense needs. He can space the floor, punish defenders who leave him open and score without controlling the ball for extended stretches. His career accuracy from 3 point range remains close to 39%, giving the Bucks evidence that last season may have been a slump rather than a lasting decline.
His first year in Milwaukee showed why the organization values him. Trent averaged 11.1 points and converted 41.6% of his shots from deep in 2024 25. He provided efficient scoring without demanding the touches required by a primary creator.
The Bucks also held Trent’s Bird rights, a salary cap exception that allows teams to exceed the cap to retain their own free agents. Milwaukee therefore had more financial flexibility to keep him than it would have had to sign a comparable replacement from another team.
Trent had built his own leverage before reaching the market. He joined Milwaukee on a minimum contract in 2024, then returned on a 2 year, $7.5 million agreement. The Bucks received 2 seasons of relatively inexpensive perimeter shooting before committing significant money to keep him.
The size of that jump defines the entire deal. Trent is moving from a low cost supporting role into a salary range that demands reliable production, consistent availability and meaningful minutes.
A Bigger Salary Raises the Standard
Milwaukee can no longer evaluate Trent as a bargain specialist whose productive nights compensate for extended quiet stretches. At $16 million per season, the Bucks need him to perform like a dependable rotation player throughout the schedule.
That does not require Trent to become a primary scorer. He must restore his catch and shoot efficiency, attack defenders who close too aggressively and make quicker decisions when opponents force him away from the 3 point line. Milwaukee also needs him to finish possessions when its main creators draw multiple defenders.
The defensive expectations are equally clear. Trent must hold his ground at the point of attack and prevent opposing guards from turning every closeout into an open path toward the basket. His offensive value becomes harder to justify when teams can target him repeatedly on the other end.
Last season’s production failed to meet those standards. An 8.1 point scoring average and 38.7% overall shooting left little margin for defensive inconsistency. Milwaukee is paying for the player who made more than 41% of his attempts from deep in 2024 25, not the player whose impact faded during the following season.
A Crowded Backcourt Adds Pressure
Milwaukee’s roster no longer resembles the group Trent joined 2 years ago. The Bucks have entered a new phase following a major organizational transition, with Tyler Herro, Caris LeVert, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr. and AJ Green forming part of an overhauled backcourt.
That competition gives Trent both an opportunity and a problem. Herro can carry a large scoring workload, while LeVert and Porter can create shots off the dribble. Rollins and Green provide additional options, leaving Trent with no guarantee that his contract alone will secure his place in closing lineups.
His clearest path to consistent minutes is to become Milwaukee’s most dependable floor spacer. Trent must keep driving lanes open, punish defensive rotations and contribute without needing repeated touches to remain involved.
A strong shooting season would also give the Bucks a useful trade asset if the roster changes again. Playoff teams regularly search for guards and wings who can stretch the floor on manageable contracts. Trent could retain value even without becoming a major scorer, provided his efficiency returns and his defense remains serviceable.
Another poor season would produce the opposite result. Milwaukee would be paying significant money to a specialist whose defining skill had become unreliable, making the contract harder to move and the rotation harder to balance.
The Deal Tests Milwaukee’s Evaluation
The Bucks are not asking Trent to become the face of the franchise. They are paying a premium to retain a proven shooter while the roster changes around him.
The basketball logic is clear. Trent is still 27, owns a strong career shooting record and has already shown that he can complement high usage scorers. Milwaukee also had limited paths to replace his shooting if he left in free agency.
The risk is just as obvious. His production declined sharply before he entered the market, and his new salary leaves little room for another season of missed open shots and shrinking offensive influence.
Trent waited 2 years for his financial reward. Milwaukee is now waiting for his jumper to return.
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FAQs
How much is Gary Trent Jr.’s new Bucks contract?
Trent agreed to a reported 4 year, $64 million contract. The deal averages $16 million per season.
Why did the Bucks re-sign Gary Trent Jr.?
Milwaukee values Trent’s career shooting record and ability to space the floor. The Bucks believe his recent decline can be reversed.
What did Gary Trent Jr. average last season?
Trent averaged 8.1 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.2 assists. He shot 38.7% from the field and 36.0% from deep.
What are Bird rights in the NBA?
Bird rights allow a team to exceed the salary cap to retain its own free agent. They gave Milwaukee greater flexibility to re-sign Trent.
Who will compete with Gary Trent Jr. for minutes?
Trent joins a crowded backcourt featuring Tyler Herro, Caris LeVert, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr. and AJ Green.
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