The Milwaukee Bucks’ handling of Gary Trent Jr. has turned into one of the NBA’s most closely watched investigations, and the talk around the league is getting louder by the day.
Trent signed a four-year, $64 million deal with Milwaukee after previously being on a minimum contract, and that jump has fueled the suspicion that the Bucks may have crossed a line on cap circumvention. The belief in NBA circles is that Trent accepted less money up front with an under-the-table understanding that a richer deal would come later. Adding to the scrutiny, he has appeared in only three games this season.
On a recent edition of The Hoop Collective, Brian Windhorst, Tim McMahon, and Bobby Marks laid out what could be waiting for the Bucks if the NBA comes down hard. Windhorst said general manager John Horst could be in serious trouble.
“I don’t want anybody to lose their job, but John Horst is facing a disaster situation with this team where he might be getting suspended. That’s what I’m saying.”
Windhorst also said the expectation around the league is that the Bucks will be found guilty, and he described the possible GM opening as one of the bleakest in years.
Brian Windhorst and Bobby Marks on the NBA's investigation of Gary Trent Jr.'s $64 million free agent deal with the Bucks 👀
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 11, 2026
"I'll just put it this way. Everybody in the league expects a guilty finding in Gary Trent. If that doesn't happen, it will be an upset."
"If [the Bucks]…
“Everybody in the league expects a guilty finding in Gary Trent. If that doesn’t happen, it will be an upset, okay? So it could be potentially the worst general manager opening in decades.”
Marks pointed to previous NBA cases as a guide for what the punishment could look like if Milwaukee is found to have violated the rules.
“If we’re going on past precedent, and we can go back to Minnesota with Joe Smith, and we can go back to the Clippers stuff from this summer, if they are found guilty, there are going to be draft picks stripped, and people are going to be suspended indefinitely for a long time here.”
McMahon took the concern a step further, saying the fallout could linger for years.
“You call this the danger zone. I call this hell.
What happens if hell freezes over? It’s a Milwaukee NBA season for the next five or six years.
That’s what happens.”
In Other News...
Maple Leafs May Have A Blue-Line Move Bigger Than A Rental
The Maple Leafs are looking beyond the usual deadline rental chatter and trying to land a defenseman who could matter well past this spring. Toronto has been linked to a handful of younger blue-liners who fit that idea, with Cam York, Alexander Nikishin, Rasmus Sandin and Simon Edvinsson all surfacing as possible targets because of their age, contract situations and potential to grow alongside the clubs core.
For a team that has spent plenty of time searching for answers on the back end, the appeal is obvious: this is about more than patching a hole for a playoff run. The challenge is finding a fit that makes sense now and later, and the names being discussed suggest Toronto is at least aiming high as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Tanev Concern Is Starting To Feel Bigger For The Leafs
Chris Tanev has already been held out of two games by the Maple Leafs as part of load management, and the pause has only sharpened the sense that Toronto is trying to manage a defender whose workload matters as much as his presence. For a team that leans on structure and veteran stability, any sign that one of its most trusted blue-liners needs extra maintenance is worth watching closely, especially when the broader conversation around the roster is already drifting toward aging core pieces and whether they can still hold up over a full season.
The concern is not just about availability, either. There has been growing analysis suggesting Tanevs defensive impact has slipped in recent seasons, which puts added pressure on Toronto to get the most out of him without overextending him. And with other roster questions still hanging over the club, from John Tavaress performance to the way goaltending numbers are being read, the Leafs are left trying to sort through a few uneasy trends at once while Anthony Stolarzs play continues to trend in a more encouraging direction. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Losing Streak Has Jim Hiller Searching For Signs Of Life
After a 5-2 loss to Minnesota, Jim Hiller spent much of his postgame session circling back to the same problem that has followed the Leafs through a five-game losing streak: the mistakes are piling up, and they are costing them at the worst possible moments. The coach pointed to the breakdown that led to Matt Boldys winning goal and said the group has to clean up its play if it wants to stop the slide.
Hiller also weighed in on several individual performances, including Gavin McKenna, John Tavares and William Nylander, as he tried to separate the rough results from what he still believes the team can become. There was frustration in the room, but also a measure of cautious optimism, with Hiller suggesting the Leafs still have enough talent to turn things around if the details start to improve. [Read more 🡒]