Two summers in a row, the Milwaukee Bucks looked like they got an absolute steal of a signing with Gary Trent Jr. However, a below-par 2025-26 season means he has likely played his last game with the team.
Gary Trent Jr. likely won't return to Milwaukee
It was a bad season all around for the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo's injuries and future dominated the headlines. Doc Rivers has now left as coach, and the team even failed to make the Play-In. Trent is a product of the chaos, but at the same time, this was a disaster of a year for what many expected and know he can do.
He finished the season averaging 8.1 points, one rebound, and one assist on shooting splits of .387/.360/.769, finding himself completely out of the rotation in the second half of the season. Other than his rookie season, Trent had a career low in points, field goal percentage, and 3-point percentage as he struggled to replicate any of his 2024-25 performances. That season, he played less than 10 minutes on two occasions; this season, that number shot up to 11.
Jon Horst handed out several player options in the offseason, and Trent was one of those players to receive one. That option is worth $3.8 million, but the fact that he fell out of the rotation at times might mean he'll look elsewhere and hope for a better offer across multiple years with a defined role.
On the other hand, the offer is there, and he may return to the team.
Young Bucks overtaken Trent on depth chart
Down the stretch, we saw a few of the young Bucks really show what they can do and give the fans a glimpse of what they can do. Ryan Rollins has impressed all season, AJ Green found his footing to break franchise records, and Cormac Ryan led the team in total points for April. This meant Trent found his way down the depth chart.
That could be what turns Trent's head away from the Bucks. He has just turned 27, so he still has a long career ahead of him, but in his prime, he likely doesn't want to be sitting at the end of the bench when he has proven before he can average 15 plus points per game.
Another huge factor for his role on the Bucks would be who the new head coach is and how they see the young players and current roster fitting. Ryan is still on a two-way deal, and his performances may convince the front office to convert him to a full deal this offseason. However, that doesn't mean the new coach will instantly make him a key cog in the rotation.
This summer will see a lot of change in Milwaukee. Gary Trent Jr. still has lots left in the tank, but it feels like the Bucks need a reset, and it would be best for both parties to go their separate ways. After a dismal season, they can't afford to bring back the same roster and hope it works.
Add us as a preferred source on Google