Gary Trent Jr.’s first preseason game in a Bucks uniform didn’t do much to quiet the noise around his new deal.
Milwaukee’s most debated offseason move was bringing Trent back on a 4-year/$64 million contract, and his debut in the preseason opener did little to change the conversation. He scored 11 points in 18 minutes, but he needed nine shots to get there and finished 3-of-9 from the field.
The Bucks’ front office said on media day that Trent would be worth the money, but that case still hasn’t been made on the floor. He came off the bench in the role expected of him and simply didn’t leave much of a mark in his first game with the new contract attached to his name.
The cleanest part of his night came from deep. Trent hit 3-of-8 from 3-point range, which works out to a solid 37.5% on strong volume. But that was also the story in miniature: the shooting was there, and not much else followed.
He attempted only one shot inside the arc and drew just two free throws. Beyond the scoring, he finished with one assist and one rebound. That kind of box score leaves little doubt about where his value is coming from right now.
There was also no sign of the perimeter defender Trent once was. He had been viewed as a strong defender at one point, but that part of his game has faded over the last two seasons, and that drop-off is a big reason his contract raised eyebrows in the first place. Milwaukee does need help on the perimeter, but it’s hard to see Trent as the answer there.
It would be unfair to treat one preseason game as a final verdict on what comes next. Even so, this outing looked a lot like the same version of Trent Bucks fans have been watching since he arrived in Milwaukee. It did nothing to ease the concerns that followed the signing.
There is still room for the regular season to tell a different story. Trent could settle in, find a rhythm, and build chemistry with new teammates on a roster that has seen plenty of turnover since the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Milwaukee is not going to look fully synced right away.
Still, the fit remains awkward. Trent will turn 28 during the season, which puts him on a different timeline than the team’s most promising players.
Keeping him around is one thing. Committing that much money to him is another.
For now, the Bucks can only wait and hope he becomes more than a shooter. Whether that comes through elite shot-making or some added veteran leadership, Trent has to give Milwaukee more if that contract is going to make sense.
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