Nate Duncan calls Gary Trent Jr.'s contract obvious salary cap circumvention
ESPN • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 13, 2026, 11:00 PM
Last updated Jul 13, 2026
NBA podcaster Nate Duncan criticized Milwaukee's signing of Gary Trent Jr. to a four-year, $64 million deal, labeling it 'obvious' salary cap circumvention. Duncan's comments followed Bill Simmons' sarcastic remark about the contract being a 'steal.' The Bucks, having signed Trent to veteran-minimum contracts previously, secured his 'Larry Bird rights' to offer him this significant raise despite a lackluster season. Duncan compared this situation to the infamous Joe Smith scandal in Minnesota and expressed doubt about Trent's value in the market.
- •Gary Trent Jr. signed a four-year, $64 million contract with the Bucks.
- •Nate Duncan criticized the deal as salary cap circumvention.
- •Trent previously signed veteran-minimum contracts to secure his rights.
- •Comparison made to the Joe Smith cap scandal in Minnesota.
- •Duncan believes Trent's market value does not justify the contract.
- 7:17 PMESPN — NBA looking into deal between Bucks, Trent Jr.
- 11:00 PMYahoo Sports — NBA podcaster Nate Duncan calls Gary Trent Jr. contract ‘obvious’ salary cap circumvention
"One of the stranger deals of the NBA offseason emerged over the weekend when Milwaukee gave reserve guard Gary Trent Jr. $64 million guaranteed over four years. The deal drew a sarcastic tweet from Bill Simmons calling it a “steal” and added to a miserable summer for Bucks fans, who just saw the franchise trade…
"The NBA is investigating a four-year, $64 million deal between Gary Trent Jr. and the Bucks for possible salary cap circumvention, a league spokesperson told ESPN.
Sources
External links- ESPNJul 16, 2026, 7:17 PMNBA looking into deal between Bucks, Trent Jr.
The NBA is investigating a four-year, $64 million deal between Gary Trent Jr. and the Bucks for possible salary cap circumvention, a league spokesperson told ESPN.
- Yahoo SportsJul 13, 2026, 11:00 PMNBA podcaster Nate Duncan calls Gary Trent Jr. contract ‘obvious’ salary cap circumvention
One of the stranger deals of the NBA offseason emerged over the weekend when Milwaukee gave reserve guard Gary Trent Jr. $64 million guaranteed over four years. The deal drew a sarcastic tweet from Bill Simmons calling it a “steal” and added to a miserable summer for Bucks fans, who just saw the franchise trade…
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