The NBA has announced it will examine a four-year, 64 million dollar contract signed by guard Gary Trent Jr. with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The league informed multiple outlets on Thursday that it plans to review the deal for possible salary cap circumvention. Trent, who is coming off a season in which he averaged 8.1 points in 21.2 minutes per game, received the fully guaranteed contract after previously signing minimum deals with the team.
The agreement has drawn attention because it approaches the maximum amount allowed under Early Bird Rights. Observers have questioned how the deal aligns with Trent's recent performance and the current free agency market.
The Ringer's Zach Lowe noted on a podcast released Wednesday that league insiders had discussed the possibility of such a contract for months. The Bucks have faced prior scrutiny over free agency practices, including a 2020 sign-and-trade violation that resulted in the loss of a second-round pick.
Article 13 of the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement allows the league to prove circumvention through direct or circumstantial evidence. The investigation into the Trent contract is now underway.