Is there a trick in the 4-year, $64 million deal? The NBA officially investigates Gary Trent Jr.'s contract with the Bucks: heavy penalties if violations are found.

On July 17, Beijing time, an NBA spokesperson told ESPN reporter Shams that the league is investigating a four-year, $64 million contract between Gary Trent Jr. and the Milwaukee Bucks, checking whether the deal circumvents the salary cap. The new contract, officially announced on Thursday morning local time, has been submitted for league review. Despite having one of the worst seasons of his career last year, he still received a significant raise and a long-term contract.

The 27-year-old Trent averaged only 8.1 points per game in the 2025-26 season, shooting 38.7% from the field, marking his lowest scoring average since his rookie season with the Trail Blazers in 2018-19 (when he played only 15 games).

In the summer of 2024, he joined the Bucks on a league minimum deal, and his first season was impressive: averaging 11.1 points and shooting 43% from the field, with solid playoff performances. Before last season, Trent signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Bucks, with a salary of $3.7 million for 2025-26. This contract allowed him to earn Early Bird rights, enabling the team to re-sign him without being restricted by the salary cap.

This summer, Trent opted out of his player option to become a free agent, and his salary for the new season will be $15.2 million.

The league launched the investigation because the NBA's collective bargaining agreement explicitly prohibits any "pre-arranged under-the-table agreements."

ESPN sources indicate that team executives across the league had anticipated Trent staying with the Bucks months ago.Last season, Trent played for the Bucks at a salary far below his market value; after the Bucks secured his Early Bird rights, the contract extension they agreed on—both in terms of years and money—far exceeded the league-wide expectations for his market.

Sources told Shams that at least one team was interested in acquiring Trent via a sign-and-trade.

Meanwhile, the Bucks' backcourt is very crowded. This offseason, the Bucks already had Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., and AJ Green; they acquired Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Caris LeVert via trades, and also drafted Brayden Burris with the 10th overall pick.

Looking back, in 2000 the league investigated the Minnesota Timberwolves' illegal signing of Joe Smith, imposing penalties and voiding the contract. At that time, the Timberwolves and Smith had a secret written illegal agreement: promising that after Smith played three seasons at the minimum salary, they would offer him a multi-year contract worth millions starting in the 2001-02 season.

U.S. media speculate that if the Bucks are found guilty, they will likely face penalties similar to the decision 26 years ago. Potential punishments include the following—

1. Directly voiding the four-year, $64 million contract;

2. Imposing a hefty fine on the Bucks;

3. Forfeiting future first-round draft picks;

4. Suspending team executives;

5. Stripping the Bucks of their Early Bird rights to re-sign Trent.