As the NBA investigates his fresh contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks to unearth potential cap circumvention, Gary Trent Jr. had a golden opportunity to show the world that he was worth it in the preseason. Well, that hasn't gone according to plan, as Milwaukee's $64 million man has failed to get the ball rolling in the early going, struggling mightily to silence his many doubters.
Trent's preseason struggles are ugly
It's early. Two games is a small sample size, especially with a new coaching staff and assortment of players in town. However, Trent hasn't done much to prove that last year's shortcomings were just a bump in the road. In his two outings, Trent is averaging just 5.5 points while hitting 17.6 percent of his shot attempts. Ouch.
Just like last season, Trent is struggling to hit his above the break 3-pointers. The guard is shooting a mere 1-of-10 on such shots in these two games. Among all players to attempt at least 10 above the break triples in the preseason, Trent's 10 percent success rate is tied for the third-worst in the NBA. That's just not going to get the job done.
This deal has already been criticized mightily by people around the NBA space, and Trent's play has only poured gasoline on the fire.
Trent has three games to turn things around
The good news on Milwaukee's end is that they still have three more preseason games on deck. That gives Trent and anyone else who might be struggling a chance to work out the kinks and get into an established groove before the NBA season. For Trent, the path to doing so is simple: just keep letting it fly with confidence and hope the results will follow.
On paper, Trent's greatest strength is his shooting. He hasn't shot 38.7 percent from distance for his career by accident. There is still a great perimeter shooter somewhere within him, and the best way to unearth that player is by leaving everything on the court. If that means missing all eight of his shots—as he did in the preseason loss to Charlotte—so be it. Get it out of your system now.
If the guard plans on being a mainstay contributor to the Milwaukee Bucks and making good on this controversial new contract, it all starts with that perimeter shot. Keep shooting it.
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