In his eighth NBA season, Gary Trent Jr. will finally have a chance to secure what he's thus far been unable to: A featured role in a high-level offense. The 26-year-old wing re-signed with the Milwaukee Bucks on a team-friendly two-year deal that could ultimately lead to a bigger contract down the line.
Before conversations about his 2026-27 player option can commence, however, a more important opportunity has been presented as Trent projects to take on an elevated role within a thin perimeter.
Milwaukee has undergone drastic changes since Trent first signed with the franchise in 2024. It parted ways with its top two perimeter scorers in Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton, brought in Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner, and even bid farewell to All-Defense center Brook Lopez.
Unfortunately, with limited cap flexibility, the Bucks have struggled to bring in proven talent who can be safely written in as starters along the perimeter.
That's a blessing in disguise for Trent. With Lillard and Middleton gone, and uncertainty surrounding Kuzma's fit with the Bucks, there's a realistic possibility that Trent could become Milwaukee's go-to perimeter scorer at some point in 2025-26.
It remains to be seen if Trent can adequately answer the call, but there's reason to believe he can at least provide a sufficient level of value in the role he's given.
Bucks have gifted Gary Trent Jr. shot at featured role, long-term contract
Trent is coming off of a season in which he averaged 11.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steal, and 2.4 three-point field goals made in 25.6 minutes per game. He shot 41.6 percent from beyond the arc, thus marking the fifth time in six seasons that he's knocked down at least 38.3 percent of his attempts.
With this in mind, an increase in playing time and shot attempts should translate to bigger numbers for a true sharpshooting wing who can space the floor with volume and efficiency.
Trent has proven as much in the past, as he averaged 18.3 points per game in 2021-22 and 17.4 points per contest in 2022-23. He also boasts a career average of 17.5 points per 36 minutes, thus implying that volume isn't necessarily an issue for him.
On a Bucks team that will be built around two big men in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Turner, head coach Doc Rivers may very well need Trent to produce in that very manner.
One of the key developments will be Milwaukee placing a higher priority on catch-and-shoot opportunities. It ranked No. 15 in catch-and-shoot three-point field goal attempts in 2024-25 despite finishing No. 1 in efficiency in that regard.
With Lillard and Middleton out of the equation, however, the Bucks will likely run fewer isolation sets and instead emphasize ball and player movement.
Trent should thrive in this scenario considering he's shot 40.3 percent or better on catch-and-shoot threes in each of the past six seasons. The question thus becomes: Can he provide similar value with the ball in his hands on a regular basis?
If the answer is yes, then Trent should not only secure a bigger role on the offensive end of the floor, but position himself for the long-term deal he's likely searching for.