Gary Trent Jr. is set for a new contract after playing well in Milwaukee's first-round exit against the Indiana Pacers. There will undoubtedly be countless suitors for the sharpshooter across the league. Luckily, the Milwaukee Bucks are positioned to pivot to a homegrown shooting guard in AJ Green if they aren't able to retain Trent's services in free agency.
AJ Green has steadily gotten better year after year
Green went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft and was later signed as a two-way player, allowing him to play for the Milwaukee Bucks and their G-League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd. He played college basketball at Northern Iowa. Green proved he had one unique skill that could potentially translate to the NBA. With that unique skill in mind, the Bucks took a swing, hoping that his sharpshooting ability could translate to the next level.
AJ Green's rookie season was surprisingly mainly spent in the NBA with the Bucks. He played in just seven games in the G-League and 35 for Milwaukee. In his limited minutes, he proved that his college shooting would translate to the NBA, shooting 42 percent from deep on three attempts per game, which was a Bucks rookie record.
In his third season, Green shot 43 percent from three, on an increase from three to five attempts per game. His ability to stretch the defense and provide spacing for players for the Milwaukee Bucks' stars to operate was immediately noticeable. It has thrust Green into the nightly rotation ever since.
The big surprise was his ability to stay in front as a defender. For a team that has struggled at the point of attack, a guard who can defend and shoot was a welcome sign to Milwaukee Bucks fans.
He has also proved to be a perfect fit around the team's best player, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Being on a team with the league's ultimate paint player as a shooter has its benefits. We have seen it with players like Malik Beasley last season or Grayson Allen in 2023.
If you can shoot, Giannis is going to find you, and you are more likely than not going to be wide open because of his gravity. Per StatMuse, Green had the second-highest plus-minus on the team in the 2024-2025 season (+227), only behind Giannis (+334). The guard can have a legitimate impact when he's on the court. The Bucks could benefit from upping his importance.
Green averaged 22 minutes per game last season despite his positive plus/minus and the space he provided. If losing Gary Trent to a higher bidder means seeing AJ Green get 30-plus minutes a night and an increase in shot attempts per game, it just might be a blessing in disguise for Milwaukee Bucks fans. The team could also retain both and have two lethal sharpshooters.