Bucks Sign Gary Trent Jr. to One-Year Contract

The Milwaukee Bucks and free agent guard Gary Trent Jr. agreed to a one-year deal Tuesday, his agents, Rich Paul and Lucas Newton of Klutch Sports, informed ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Milwaukee Bucks’ Gary Trent Jr. averaged 13.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game with Toronto Raptors last season

Trent, 25, joins Milwaukee after spending the past 3½ seasons in Toronto. In 71 games (41 starts), he averaged 13.7 points on 43% shooting while also shooting 39% from 3-point range, his best mark since the 2019-20 season.

On March 23, the 6-foot-5, 209-pound guard scored a season-high 31 points last season at Washington. He finished 10-of-26 (38.5%) shooting from the field and made all 10 free throw attempts.

Per the Basketball-Reference database, he also finished second in turnover percentage (5%) last season.

Through 341 career NBA games (201 starts), he has averaged 14.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 28.8 minutes per game. Plus, he has shot 42.2% from the floor, 38.6% from deep, and 81.9% at the free throw line.

According to Second Spectrum, Trent has shot 41% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers over the past two seasons. The six-year veteran will also be reunited with Damian Lillard, who was his teammate for over two seasons in Portland.

The Sacramento Kings selected Trent 37th overall in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft. However, he was then traded to Portland. Trent was a teammate of Lillard before he was traded to Toronto during the 2020-21 season.

Trent is one of four NBA players with 500 3-pointers, 300 steals over the past three seasons

Although Trent is known for his shooting ability, he is an above-average defensive player as well. When the Bucks traded Jrue Holiday away last September, they weren’t quite the same team again defensively.

Trent is one of four players with 500 3-pointers and 300 steals over the past three seasons, per ESPN Stats & Information. He joins Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, Houston’s Fred VanVleet, and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards.

More importantly, Trent already has a connection with Bucks coach Doc Rivers through his father, Gary Trent Sr. During the offseason, Rivers flew to Miami to help recruit Trent to Milwaukee.

Through almost a month of free agency, Trent’s addition has arguably been the Bucks’ most significant offseason move. Despite a disappointing postseason, they have managed to keep their roster intact.

Earlier this month, Milwaukee lost Malik Beasley, who signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Pistons. Trent is expected to replace Beasley and help improve the team’s perimeter shooting.