Category: Basketball

The Dallas Mavericks play on Thursday afternoon at 3pm on Amazon Prime against the Summer Oklahoma City Thunder. Honestly, I forgot about this game, regular work day and all for me, and I suspect most Mavs fans won’t be catching this one either. But in case you do, here’s a discussion board:

• WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder
• WHAT: NBA Summer League, Game 4 for Dallas
• WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
• WHEN: 3:00 pm CST
• HOW: Amazon Prime

I have no idea who isn’t playing. I hope Morez Johnson does but calf injuries are serious.

The Grizzlies game was fun. Here’s hoping this one is too. How’s that for a game preview. If any of the guys drafted in Dallas plays, then that’s a good thing. We want to see them play basketball.

The LeBron James saga has dragged on for a few weeks now, and it’s not clear if it will end anytime soon. Depending on which reports you believe, the Golden State Warriors are either the favorites to land the 22-time All-Star and four-time MVP, or well on the outside looking in.

You might be stressed about it. But one person apparently isn’t: Steve Kerr.

In inimitable Kerr fashion, the Warriors head coach has taken a playful attitude with the swirling attention and uncertainty. On Wednesday, some fans uploaded a social media post interacting with Kerr while he was at a stoplight. With his window down, Kerr waived and smiled at the fans. A fan then comments that the Dubs need to get LeBron, to which Kerr smirks and responds, “Oh, we got him. Put that on Twitter.” The light then turns green and the Warriors’ coach drives away.

Yall believe him? 🤣

Via https://t.co/vT0FatxWRspic.twitter.com/T46jlZk6Wm

— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) July 15, 2026

It’s worth noting, in this world of AI slop, that it’s a real video. According to The Athletic’s Nick Friedell and Devon Henderson, Warriors executives have confirmed that it’s a real video. It’s even more important to note, of course, that this is almost certainly just Kerr being the lighthearted, silly, don’t take things too seriously self. James has yet to reveal where he’ll play and, per numerous reports, has not informed any team executives of his line of thinking. Even if James has made a decision (and it’s not clear that he has), Kerr almost surely has not been informed of it … and if he had, he certainly wouldn’t be breaking the news to fans at a stoplight.

Still, if you’re grasping at straws looking for reasons to be optimistic about James partnering with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, well … these things are fun and exciting, even if ultimately probably meaningless.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mavs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Let us know, we’ll talk more about it this week or weekend.

The world, and Northeast Ohio, in particular, is still waiting for LeBron James to decide which NBA team he wants to play for next season. Fans were hopeful that an announcement would come today during James’ live recording of his Mind the Game podcast.

But no such decision was made.

James almost immediately dispelled the idea that he’d be announcing the next chapter of his career. Telling Indiana Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton not to even ask.

Tyrese Haliburton attempted to ask LeBron James about his decision early on in the program and James did not bite, saying “didn’t we already talk about this in the back.” Haliburton acquiesced and said, “I’ll leave it alone.”

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 16, 2026

Mind the Game previously announced they would be holding a live recording during the Fanatics festival in New York City. Some fans assumed that would come with a live stream of the show. They were wrong, as the episode is only being taped in front of a live audience and will be released on YouTube later.

We were all pump-faked not once, but twice.

Cavs fans aren’t alone in their wait. Patience has been key as numerous teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and even the Minnesota Timberwolves, cling to hope that the King will come to their city.

James is still talented enough to warrant this level of attention. He might be the oldest player in the league, but he was playing at an All-Star level last season and is more available than many of his younger peers. Teams naturally view James as someone who can put them over the top.

Still, we all wait for something concrete to be reported. We’ve followed his trips to various golf courses. We’ve listened to local bakers and hair salons. It’s all led nowhere. James is keeping the cards close to his chest — and we aren’t even entirely sure he has made a decision up to this point.

James is also scheduled for an appearance on CNBC later today. Rich Paul will be joining him. Perhaps we get our long-awaited decision during that broadcast? Only time will tell.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr went viral for telling a fan, “We got him,” when the fan told Kerr that Golden State needed to sign LeBron James in free agency.

While Kerr’s comments clearly appeared to be made tongue-in-cheek, the three-word comment went viral on social media, with some fans taking these comments as proof that LeBron will be taking his talents to the San Francisco Bay Area to end his legendary NBA career.

However, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst poured cold water on this belief during a Thursday appearance on “ESPN First Take”.

“I’m sure that’s the way the news is gonna come out, Steve Kerr at a stoplight,” Windhorst said sarcastically when asked about the coach’s comment.

Windhorst then added, “I do not expect LeBron to announce where he’s going today. I could be wrong… But I have a lot that I want to hear from LeBron today. And what I’m hoping is that I’ll be better able to answer this question, after he has this discussion.”

Windhorst is referring to LeBron’s appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York City’s Javits Center on Thursday.

James and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton are sitting down for a live taping of the “Mind the Game” podcast on Thursday, and many believed LeBron would be announcing his free agency decision during the podcast.

However, LeBron made it clear early during the taping that he did not intend to announce his decision.

Windhorst then added that nobody, including the teams who are expected to be potential landing spots for James, know what his decision will be, nor when he’ll make it.

Regardless, LeBron isn’t going to let Steve Kerr steal his shine.

Back in the win column. The Nets cruised to a 115-83 victory over the Kings on Monday afternoon in Las Vegas. It was a particularly good game for the starting lineup, all who scored in double digits on better than 52 percent shooting. The Nets looked like the better team on both ends of the ball and that’s a major nod to coach Dutch Gaitley.

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Watch

• Watch: YES Network, Gotham Sports, ESPNU.
• Who: Nets vs. Rockets
• When: Tip after 4:30 PM.

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The Game

The Nets played some of their best ball all summer against the Kings on Tuesday, and that includes the California Classic. The ball was swinging around the perimeter, players were diving after loose balls, and they simply manhandled a clearly weaker Kings team. Summer League can only be taken so serious, but this was a huge step in the right direction for the BK guys. We’ll see if the main attractions suit up in this one.

Otherwise, Egor Dëmin is offering plenty of optimism. He had a decent rookie season before being shut down and is excelling in Summer League.

From Ricky O’Donnell at the mothership:

“It’s time I fill out an apology form on Egor Demin. Ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, I named Demin one of the most overrated prospects in the class, and gave the Nets a D for his selection at No. 8 overall in my instant grades. My main arguments against Demin were that I didn’t think he could score efficiently inside or outside the arc, and I didn’t think he had the frame to play through contact on either end. Well! Demin massively improved as a shooter as a rookie, going from 27 percent from three and 69 percent from the foul line in college to 38.5 percent from three and 83.1 percent on free throws as a rookie. A year in an NBA strength and conditioning program helped his body quite a bit too, and he continues to show the gains he’s made during summer league. Demin scored 20 or more points in all three of his summer league games this year on 61 percent true shooting. He looks improved attacking the basket off the bounce, and he’s showing he can hit the defensive glass, too. The Nets have done a really good job developing Demin’s frame, and it’s paying off on both ends. Demin deserves a lot of credit himself for putting in the work to improve his jumper. I’m happy to be wrong about this one because Demin is a cool player with a fun skill set who should be a nice piece in Brooklyn’s rebuild for a long time.“

As the Nets continue their rebuild, young players exceeding expectations will go a long way in helping them get back to where they want to be. As Demin continues to get stronger and gain professional experience, his game will continue to progress and reach higher heights.

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Player to watch: Mikel Brown Jr

Assuming he plays…

It’s been a fun summer for the newest Net. Over his first two games, Mikel Brown Jr is averaging 18 points and four assists on .522/.455/1.000 shooting splits. In addition to those numbers, the kid has put forth plenty of exciting moments that have Nets fans excited for what’s to come

Mikel Brown Jr. picks Darius Acuff's pocket in transition, then crosses him over and hits the pull-up middy. pic.twitter.com/jSew2VIVfo

— Erik Slater (@ErikSlater_) July 14, 2026

Brown Jr has been one of the more pleasant surprises coming out of Summer League and is a player that has drawn tons of praise across the basketball landscape this month. Another good outing will only add to his run and help build anticipation as we transition into the Fall.

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From the Vault

I’m always down to watch some random Hakeem Olajuwon highlights

More reading: The Dream Shake, SB Nation NBA

Reports emerged on July 10 that former Miami Heat teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro got involved in a physical altercation at a gym inside the Resorts World Casino in Las Vegas.

After Herro, who was recently traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, allegedly sent some DMs criticizing Adebayo's play and salary. The DMs were leaked, and Adebayo was unhappy. Adebayo reportedly confronted Herro in front of Herro's AAU team and punched him.

Such an action would normally result in consequences. However, on Thursday, July 16, the NBA announced that it would not be taking action against Adebayo for the conflict.

NBA spokesperson on Bam Adebayo-Tyler Herro incident: "After discussing with the players involved and the NBPA, everyone would prefer to move on from this unfortunate circumstance, and no further action will be taken by the league." https://t.co/S1xcPRvKWB

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 16, 2026

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, a league spokesperson said the league believes it best to simply "move on from this unfortunate circumstance."

The decision has some fans puzzled, considering other players have been hit with much harsher penalties for less. Here's what we know.

What is a normal NBA punishment for physical violence against another player?

A previous altercation that first comes to mind is the October 2022 incident in which Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green punched then-teammate Jordan Poole at practice.

Though Green was not suspended for his actions, he was fined, per the NBA.

Furthermore, in the NBA's latest collective bargaining agreement, the commissioner of the league is granted power to to investigate and penalize players for conduct deemed detrimental to the league, even during the offseason or in private situations.

Although similar instances to Adebayo and Herro resulted in fines - in 2016 Matt Barnes made inappropriate comments about then-Knicks head coach Derek Fisher or the 2012 incident that saw Stephen Jackson make threatening statements on social media directed at Serge Ibaka after an on-court fight — the NBA apparently does not see the conflict between Adebayo and Herro as "detrimental to the league."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA won't take action in Bam Adebayo-Tyler Herro incident

A fan pulled up next to Steve Kerr's black SUV at a stoplight on Wednesday. After a quick exchange of pleasantries, the fan had one question for the Golden State Warriors head coach:

"When you gonna get LeBron, man?"

Kerr didn't hesitate.

"Oh, we got him," he replied immediately. "Put that on Twitter."

The nine-time NBA champion looked back at the car next to him through his sunglasses and let out a big laugh with them before pulling off.

Now, it should be made clear here that Kerr was probably joking, or at the very least made the comment in good fun to a question that he's likely been getting a lot these days. The entire NBA world, from fans to players and coaches to front office executives, is waiting with bated breath to see where exactly LeBron James will be playing his historic 24th season. According to multiple reports, the league's all-time leading scorer has all the information he needs from the teams he's considering and is now weighing his options, so a decision appears to be inching closer.

Yall believe him? 🤣

Via https://t.co/vT0FatxWRspic.twitter.com/T46jlZk6Wm

— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) July 15, 2026

Until then, however, all basketball discourse is stuck in a wash cycle.

The teams James has been linked to include the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves and of course, the Warriors, who have emerged alongside the Cavs as betting favorites to sign James in recent weeks. It's an intriguing pairing as it would unite the 41-year-old James with a 38-year-old Steph Curry, once his biggest on-court rival when the two battled in the NBA Finals for four straight summers from 2015-2018.

At the American Century Championship golf event in Nevada on July 9, Curry shot his shot.

"The pitch is: Do you want to play good basketball and be around people who know how to play the game? Raise our floor, our competitiveness this year," he said. "There’s good golf in the Bay.” 

Golden State wants to get Curry one last real push for a fifth ring and with limited options, James represents their best chance. It just so happens that James has the same goal.

Therefore, a partnership with Curry not only makes sense, but also represents a last stand of sorts for the NBA's old guard before they age out and make way for the next wave of talent.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'We got him': Steve Kerr's viral roadside comment on LeBron James

Countless members of the basketball community were hoping that LeBron James would announce which team he’d be signing with in NBA free agency during his live taping of the “Mind the Game” podcast at Fanatics Fest on July 16 in New York.

But James wasted no time asserting that his decision would not be revealed during the taping, which featured the Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton as a guest star.

ESPN’s Dave McMenamin made an X post just a few minutes into the podcast’s live taping, saying Haliburton tried asking James about his decision right after the two sat down.

“Didn’t we already talk about this in the back?” James apparently responded, per McMenamin’s X post. This prompted Haliburton to say: “I’ll leave it alone.”

Tyrese Haliburton attempted to ask LeBron James about his decision early on in the program and James did not bite, saying “didn’t we already talk about this in the back.” Haliburton acquiesced and said, “I’ll leave it alone.”

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 16, 2026

Therefore, it’s clear that James is not entertaining any chatter about where he’s going to sign during the podcast, which appears to be focused on other basketball-related topics with Haliburton.

There’s still a chance that James will announce his decision during an appearance at the Game Plan Summit, an invitation-only event presented by CNBC and Boardroom that’s also taking place today.

However, if James wasn’t going to announce it on his own podcast, it’s unlikely he’s going to do it later in the day on a different media appearance.

Either James hasn’t decided yet, or wants to keep it to himself for at least another day.

It appears that James is currently deciding between the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Golden State Warriors, and the Philadelphia 76ers right now, although the Minnesota Timberwolves could also still be in the running.

The beauty about James’ playing style is that he could fit into essentially any roster. Even at 41 years old, his combination of size and agility makes it so he can play any position on the court. He can also create offense and opportunities for his teammates or step up as a scorer, depending on the situation and who he’s sharing the court with.

One of the biggest questions is what James is seeking at this point in his career. He has made it clear that he’s looking to be happy in what will be his final NBA destination, but happiness can manifest in multiple ways.

Given LeBron’s competitive nature, one would imagine that nothing would make him happier than winning another NBA championship.

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The NBA is standing pat on the high-profile altercation between Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.

An NBA spokesperson said, “After discussing with the players involved and the NBPA, everyone would prefer to move on from this unfortunate circumstance, and no further action will be taken by the league.”

The response comes after ESPN reported a physical altercation between Adebayo and Herro in which Adebayo allegedly punched his former Heat teammate at the Resorts World Hotel in Las Vegas, and Herro was later restrained from a physical response.

Adebayo reportedly confronted Herro over comments he made on social media following Herro’s trade to the Bucks this offseason in a package for Giannis Antetokoumnmpo.

“Honestly, I’m just trying to move past all of it,” Herro told ESPN on the incident.

“I’m focused on Milwaukee and building something special. They obviously just traded the greatest player in their history, so we want to come in and help continue what they’ve been doing.”

Heat sources told ESPN that Herro and Adebayo had generally gotten along during their seven years as teammates in Miami, but grew apart last season as Herro battled injuries and seemingly struggled to adjust to a new offensive scheme.

Several times last season, Adebayo made comments that implied Herro needed to be doing more to adjust, which reportedly impacted Herro as he was fighting ankle, toe and rib injuries, which caused him to appear in just 33 games last season.

Herro had also heard his name in Antetokounmpo trade discussions dating back to February.

He was ultimately a piece of the package going back to Milwaukee that also included Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and multiple picks, including three first-rounders.

The Heat also received Bobby Portis from the Bucks in the trade.

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green appears to be fed up with Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg’s media tour since being taken with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Green conveyed this when speaking about Lendeborg’s recent recruiting pitch to LeBron James during a Thursday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show”.

“[Lendeborg] said, ‘I know you don’t like rookies that much, but I’m not the average rookie. If you’re looking to play with the greatest shooter of all time, and Draymond, we’ll be glad to have you.’ Is the pitch too weak, or too strong? I don’t know,” Green said during his podcast, paraphrasing the pitch Lendeborg made to LeBron during a June 12 appearance on Bleacher Report’s “B/R at Summer League” show.

“I think the pitch is pointless. You know? But it’s fine; training camp is coming soon enough, and, you know, got to reign the rookie in a little bit, teach him a few things,” Green added.

“Training camp’s coming soon enough… And I think you all know why I’m hitting at training camp. And yeah, it’ll get here soon enough, Yax. Enjoy all your media.”

Draymond Green on Yaxel Lendeborg pitch to LeBron James to join Golden State:

“Is the pitch too weak or too strong? I don’t know. I think the pitch is pointless, you know. But it’s fine. Training camp is coming soon enough and you know, got to rain the rookie in a little bit.… pic.twitter.com/aKLMt6b5EF

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) July 16, 2026

The four-time All-Star seems to be suggesting that he’ll be giving Lendeborg a tough time during training camp, perhaps as a way to remind him where his place on the Warriors’ totem pole is at this point in his career.

All the media attention the former Michigan Wolverine has received since being drafted has sparked several viral comments, including Lendeborg asserting that Green ghosted him after the NBA Draft.

Green is probably right in saying that Lendeborg’s pitch to LeBron is “pointless,” if only because LeBron isn’t going to weigh anything a rookie says about where he should sign to end his career.

Then again, Lendeborg’s harmless pitch was part of a show segment, so there’s really no reason to come down too harshly on him for it.

Maybe a bit of the vitriol between the new teammates stems from their natural rivalry. The veteran Green played college ball at Michigan State as a Spartan. Meanwhile, Lendeborg is coming off a national championship with the Wolverines.

But if there is one thing Green and Lendeborg can agree on, it’s that they want LeBron to choose the Warriors.

We’ve experienced plenty of emotion from the Phoenix Suns during Summer League.

Koa Peat is screaming into the ether after throwing down a savage dunk. Khaman Maluach is yelling toward general manager Brian Gregory after swatting an opponent’s shot into the multiverse. The passion and emotion on display in Las Vegas this summer could very well be a byproduct of the culture the organization has cultivated, bringing in players like Dillon Brooks, who spent all of last season alongside Maluach.

Then there’s Rasheer Fleming.

He simply goes about his business with a steady hand and a rhythmic heartbeat. He hasn’t been flashy. He hasn’t been loud. He’s simply been effective. That can make it difficult to fully appreciate what he’s doing, especially when he’s sharing the floor with two players whose emotional displays naturally command your attention. But despite his Kawhi Leonard approach to the game, Fleming has quietly put together an outstanding Summer League.

You might not immediately see it in the counting stats, but what Rasheer Fleming is doing defensively has been what truly caught my eye. That said, even the numbers are more than respectable for a second-year, second-round pick playing in his second Summer League. Fleming is averaging 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 block per game while shooting 47.4% from the field and 42.1% from beyond the arc. From a statistical standpoint, there’s nothing underwhelming about that production.

He’s not demanding the basketball the way Koa Peat does, either as a scorer or facilitator. He’s not consistently finding touches as a rim runner the way Khaman Maluach is. Instead, he’s playing within the flow of the offense, and that’s exactly what makes his performance so encouraging. He’s setting high screens and back screens. He’s finding the corners. He’s rebounding the ball and going back up with it. He’s taking the open three when it comes his way. For a player whose long-term projection is as a three-and-D forward, Fleming is the Summer League player whose role most closely mirrors what he’ll actually be asked to do next season.

Fleming saved his best performance for the Suns’ final Summer League game, finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds, and knocking down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Some will look at that performance and wonder why he didn’t play that way throughout Summer League. I see it differently.

His role with the Suns is going to be as a three-and-D forward. That’s why I wasn’t focused solely on his scoring. Yes, I wanted to see how the three-point shot looked. But more than anything, I wanted to see the defense. That’s the side of the ball that rarely receives the appreciation it deserves. If the counting stats aren’t jumping off the page, it can be easy to overlook what a player is actually doing. Fleming was anything but underwhelming over four Summer League games.

What I have appreciated most was his awareness on defense. I think back to last Summer League, when he looked like he was all arms and legs, running around the court, losing his man, arriving late on closeouts, slipping under screens, and generally looking uncomfortable defensively during his limited minutes. He missed the first two games and averaged only 16.8 minutes. This year, in 26.7 minutes per game, there’s a confidence to the way he defends. More importantly, there’s execution.  Watch his feet as he glides with ball handlers and rotates between assignments. Watch his arms as they clog passing lanes and deter shots at the rim. That’s where the growth has been.

Yesterday against the Detroit Pistons was a perfect example. Ebuka Okorie, the 17th overall pick, had put together a solid Summer League for Detroit. He’s a twitchy point guard with the ability to beat defenders off the bounce with ease. Not yesterday. The Suns’ game plan was simple. Put Rasheer Fleming on him and make his life miserable. Mission accomplished. Okorie finished with 16 points, but it took him 17 shots to get there. Fleming’s work at the point of attack was outstanding, consistently disrupting Detroit’s offense and making every possession a challenge.

That’s one of those things that gives you butterflies in your stomach when you start thinking about the possibilities next season. If Fleming spends time at small forward, his defensive versatility becomes incredibly intriguing. He has the ability to guard one through five. On one possession, you can throw him at the point of attack. On the next, he can battle a power forward inside. When you combine that with the different lineup combinations the Suns can deploy, it becomes a fascinating chess piece for Jordan Ott to work with.

So he might not be loud. He might not be extroverted on the court. That doesn’t mean his Summer League has been underwhelming. 

When we talk about progression from the sophomore class, Fleming belongs in that conversation. Much like the Suns’ second-year players showed meaningful growth throughout last season, we’ve seen that progression continue in Las Vegas.

The challenge now becomes translating it to the regular season. For a player who appears destined to receive consistent rotational minutes, this was a meaningful step in the right direction. The three-and-D role he’ll be asked to fill aligns almost perfectly with what he’s shown throughout Summer League.

Sometimes, progression isn’t measured by who scores the most points. Sometimes it’s measured by how prepared a player looks for the role that’s waiting for him.

The NBA is looking into the free agent deal signed by Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr., according to multiple media reports.

Trent Jr. signed a four-year, $64 million free agent deal to return to the Bucks. It is not known why the league is conducting the probe, but if it is looking into any signed contract, it is most likely due to issues related to salary cap circumvention. The league is currently looking into the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard for their alleged salary cap circumvention.

The last time the NBA punished a team for toying around with the cap was in 2000, when the Minnesota Timberwolves were fined $3.5 million and forfeited five first-round draft picks after signing forward Joe Smith to a secret deal. Smith's Bird rights were stripped, making him a free agent, and the league suspended owner Glen Taylor.

Trent Jr. signed a one-year, $2.6 million deal with Milwaukee in 2024, then inked a two-year, $7.58 million contract with a player option, which he declined, allowing him to sign the most recent lucrative deal. That deal allowed the Bucks to exceed the salary cap for their own free agents, provided they have spent two years with the team.

The 27-year-old Trent averaged 8.1 points on 38% shooting in 65 games last season, his lowest scoring average since his second year in the league in 2019-20 with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Trent has career averages of 13 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in eight NBA seasons.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA probing Gary Trent Jr.'s $64 million free agent contract with Bucks

The NBA is “probing” the Bucks signing of Gray Trent Jr., according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Trent signed a four-year, $64-million deal with Milwaukee on Saturday, raising eyebrows across the league.

Last season, the guard averaged his fewest minutes per game since his rookie season, putting up an inefficient 8.1 points and shot just 38.7% from the floor.

Trent even fell out of the Bucks rotation entirely at times.

Despite that, the Bucks rewarded the shooting guard with a gargantuan raise and guaranteed salary for four years.

While some called it an offseason blunder, others claim it’s circumstantial evidence that the Bucks circumvented the salary cap to get the most out of the final years of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Coming off a $51.8 million contract with the Raptors in 2024, Trent signed for a league-minimum $2.6 million with the Bucks.

This was the only contract the Bucks could afford as they paid heavy prices on Antetokounmpo and Damien Lillard and were deep into the luxury tax apron.

Trent’s numbers dropped in Milwaukee, no longer starting as he did at times with the Raptors, but the Bucks re-signed him last offseason with the 20% Non-Bird raise.

The extreme drop-off followed by a jump in salary that doesn’t match on-court performance, could potentially hint at a handshake deal made that promised a certain salary in the future for a short-term pay cut.

Such deals are banned in Article XIII, Section 2 of the NBA collective bargaining agreement.

“At no time shall there be any agreements or transactions of any kind (whether disclosed or undisclosed to the NBA), express or implied, oral or written, or promises, undertakings, representations, commitments, inducements, assurances of intent, or understandings of any kind (whether disclosed or undisclosed to the NBA), between a player … and any Team … concerning any future Renegotiation, Extension, or other amendment of an existing Player Contract, or entry into a new Player Contract.”

The probing comes after just about everyone in the NBA world questioned the signing.

NBA salary cap expert Nate Duncan said on X that the contract “would fall under the provision that there is no possible explanation other than circumvention.”

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon chimed in saying the contract stunk.

“It smells awful,” he said on “Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective.”