The NBA opened an investigation into the contract agreed to by Gary Trent Jr. and the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.

The deal – which totalled $64million over four seasons – had been flagged by some fans and analysts as strange, with some alleging salary cap circumvention.

The Bucks originally signed Trent in the summer of 2024 as a 3-point sharpshooter off the bench to help support a roster centred on Giannis Antetokounmpo with playoff aspirations.

In 2024-25, Trent averaged 11.1 points while shooting 43.1% from the field and 41.6% from 3-point range.

Last season, however, was Trent’s worst since his 15-game rookie campaign, averaging 8.1 points on 38.7% shooting overall and 36.0% 3-point shooting.

Trent made a total of $7.6million in his first two seasons with the Bucks.

Many observers wondered, then, why Milwaukee would reward a veteran like Trent with a $64million deal – fully guaranteed – after his worst full season as a pro, especially with the Bucks rebuilding after trading Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat.

Why this is a talking point is that Trent Jr shot 39% from the field last year and was rewarded with a top-10 offseason contract. Factor in also the overload of guards for a retooling Milwaukee team.

The counter argument is that Trent Jr. shot 41.6% from three the prior season… https://t.co/v6jcwWZoKz

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 16, 2026

Some analysts have drawn the conclusion that Milwaukee may have promised Trent a lucrative second contract when they originally signed him in 2024, a practice that is banned by the “prior agreement” clause in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.

In 2000, the NBA voided the contract of Joe Smith and penalised the Minnesota Timberwolves after it found evidence of the parties engaging in a prior agreement.

 

No decision yet from James

Free agent LeBron James did not announce where he will play the 2026-27 season during his public appearance at a podcast recording at a fan festival on Thursday.

Some had speculated that the NBA’s all-time leading scorer could use the public platform at Fanatics Fest to declare his intentions.

Instead, the wait will continue.

James hinted that a decision could be made soon, saying, “I won’t hold you guys up too much longer.”

After spending the last eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, James announced earlier this offseason that he would not return to the glamour franchise next season.

Speculation has linked James to reunions with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, while other analysts have seen opportunities for him to join Team USA teammates on the Golden State Warriors or Philadelphia 76ers.

James has not publicly narrowed his list of destinations.

“It’s not just about the team,” James said during the podcast with co-host Tyrese Haliburton. “There’s so many other factors that I’m factoring in right now on what best fits me as a player, what best fits me as a person and what best fits my happiness, and also my family as well.

“It's a big decision for not only myself, but for my family as well,” James said. “Just for the last part of my career and where I want to spend the last few years or the last year or the last two years of my NBA career ... I'm going to try to fit into whatever team I'm going into - but also give them all the tools and give them all the knowledge that I've been able to grasp over the last 23 years. I know the game. I know the ins and outs of the game of basketball.”

 

No discipline expected for Adebayo, Herro after dust-up

The NBA is not expected to issue suspensions or fines after former Miami Heat teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro were in a physical altercation in Las Vegas, ESPN reported Thursday.

"After discussing with the players involved and the NBPA, everyone would prefer to move on from this unfortunate circumstance, and no further action will be taken by the league," an NBA spokesperson told ESPN.

News broke of the pair’s altercation on July 10 after they fought outside a hotel gym.

According to multiple media outlets, Adebayo confronted Herro about comments made on social media.

Herro was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this offseason in the deal that brought Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami.