BREAKING: Gary Trent Jr. Joins Contender on Minimum Contract

After demanding a contract in excess of $25 million per year from the Toronto Raptors, free agent shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. has now decided to accept the veterans minimum ($2.1 million) to join the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Gary Trent Jr. signed a one-year deal with the Bucks, per @wojespn.

Huge addition for Milwaukee to add their new starting shooting guard on a bargain contract. pic.twitter.com/IDtoGUxkXk

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 16, 2024

Trent now reunites with Damian Lillard, his backcourt teammate with the Portland Trail Blazers for a couple of seasons. The Bucks "recruited him hard" per Adrian Wojnarowski, convincing him to chase a title with them.

The Bucks lost their starting shooting guard Malik Beasley in free agency this summer, but Trent provides a more than adequate replacement having hit on 43% of his catch and shoot threes last season and 38% overall. 

In accepting the veterans minimum, Trent is taking a "bet on himself" approach hoping that his performance alongside Lillard and the Bucks will propel him to a much larger deal in free agency next summer

Photo:  Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports