Gary Trent Jr. had multiyear offers worth approximately the taxpayer portion of the mid-level exception ($5.2MM) on the table in free agency, league sources tell Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca. However, the 25-year-old swingman ultimately decided to accept a one-year, minimum-salary offer from the Bucks in order to reunite with former teammate Damian Lillard and contend for a title in Milwaukee.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, who had a preexisting relationship with Trent through his father (Gary Trent Sr.), flew to Miami earlier this month to help recruit the free agent wing to Milwaukee, according to Jamal Collier of ESPN.com.
While Trent’s three-point numbers last season (2.5 per game on 39.3% shooting) fell a little shy of Malik Beasley‘s marks (2.8 makes on 41.3% shooting), Eric Nehm of The Athletic believes there’s reason to believe the newcomer can boost those stats even further when sharing the floor with stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard.
As Nehm writes, Trent also isn’t just a catch-and-shoot player — he has the ability to put the ball on the floor a little and attack closeouts on offense. And while he’s not the most consistent defender, Trent has had his moments on that end of the floor and should benefit from having Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez protecting the rim behind him.
Here’s more from around the Central:
- A source who spoke to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times referred to DeMar DeRozan as someone who has acted as a “buffer” between Bulls head coach Billy Donovan and star guard Zach LaVine for the past three seasons. According to that source, with DeRozan no longer around, the team would risk a “dysfunctional” locker room next season if it brings back LaVine.
- After signing a two-year, $52MM contract with the Pistons earlier this month, veteran forward Tobias Harris said his biggest goal for the coming season is to “be the best leader I can be for this group” and trying to help his younger teammates reach their full potential, per Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. “I’m going into year 14,” Harris said on Tuesday’s Summer League broadcast on NBA TV. “I’ve had a lot of experience in this league and one of the most satisfying things is seeing the young guys come up for us to figure out how good we can be as a group and have the best type of team chemistry and flow for us.”
- Speaking to Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, Pistons rookie Ron Holland discussed his Summer League experience, his goals for his rookie season, and the NBA players he wants to model his game after (including Mikal Bridges and Jaylen Brown). Meanwhile, Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press takes a look at what Holland has shown in his Summer League games so far, noting that the 19-year-old’s impressive tools and his room for growth have both been on display.
Zach LaVine and a pick for Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton 2 and Kevon Looney – the money is identical, a direct perfect money swap.
But that sacrifices depth, defense, size and harmony for the Warriors. Why the hell would they want a guy who is always hurt and doesn’t play defense? I’d rather have Wiggins, GP2 and Looney. If you’re gonna lose and least lose with your guys not some coach killing clubhouse cancer.
I agree in general, however, GSW’s roster in its current iteration has the issue of “too many rotation players” right now at 13 and it kind of bit them last year in causing Kerr to struggle to find minutes for everyone, causing bad rotations that caused losses. I do like the depth, you have an excellent point there, but also, the way this team is structured is kind of lacking that one last scorer (the defense already has massively improved from last year, they can afford to bring on another Hield-type if its LaVine, IMO). I would prefer donig Podz+picks for Lauri, but swapping those 3 and getting a pick back from Chicago might be better for us long term.
For example, here is just one way to plot out the roster depth.
Regular rotation players (13):
C: Green, Jackson-Davis, Looney, Post
F: Kuminga, Wiggins, Anderson, Santos
G: Curry, Hield, Moody, Melton, Podziemski, Payton II, Waters III
2W: Beekman-Plowden-Spencer
I put (13) and listed Post and Santos, but they arent going to be in the opening night rotations, but still will be on the main roster. Those two are not included in the 13.
They need a 7 footer, Bogut like at least. Even off the bench, gives them another option un the frontcourt, that they don’t have right now.
Davey I see how a person can be attracted to 25 points a game. But Zach LaVine is a player nobody wants and for many reasons.
I’m still hoping my megatrade that I have posted on here happens where we swap Podz, Wiggs, GP2 and Looney and picks and get back Lauri, Zach, picks and money, and we win 60+ easily next season on our way to Curry’s 5th ring and 2nd FMVP!
Lauri, Kuminga and Moody breaking out and taking their games to the next level would make GSW scary again starting next year – I can’t stop thinking about this!
Wiggins > Lavine get that through your head lol
Trent is a bum. He hit 50+% on wide open 3s and a pretty abysmal number on anything contested. He gets less assists than a backup centre and is basically a pylon on defense.
League is 3/4 full of bums by your analysis
He had a negative VORP. Wtf are you talking about.
So, how many of those replacement level GLeague players better than Trent you mentioned are getting all the mid-level exception ($5.2MM) contracts?
50% on wide open is pretty great, it just means he isnt a shot creator and should be a floor spacer/shooting specialist. Assists also dont matter much if he plays that role.
Defense hurts him for sure, but he isnt a worse defender than Beasley so definitely a win for the Bucks.
Beasley by every metric was better. You have never watched Trent play a full game. I’ve watched multiple seasons. He is not what you think he is. There’s a reason he is getting minimum contract.
Again, Beasley was better because he benefited from playing alongside Giannis and Dame. Trent should see a boost in his numbers for the same reason. Hence why he signed for less to play for the Bucks.
He’s a CAREER 82% FT shooter. A CAREER 39% 3PT shooter. Never been ast guy. He’s a scorer. For minimum. It is a better deal than Obrue was for Philly last yr.
Go Learn the game …..
Your argument crumbles on itself. He’s so great, a scorer, yet not a single team wanted to give him any type of commitment? He had a NEGATIVE VORP. Meaning, he’s worse than a replacement level (G League) player when considering what he brings to a team.
Learn the stats bruv. You need to know what metrics to look at.
I don’t have an argument. I have talent vision. I don’t care what you think. You don’t even have reading comprehension. So how do you read talent. By contracts ….
CST • By Luke Adams
Gary Trent Jr. had multiyear offers worth approximately the taxpayer portion of the mid-level exception ($5.2MM) on the table in free agency, league sources tell Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca.
So by your argument Zach and Ben are best players in NBA. Learn the game and stop repeat other people’s thoughts. Get a real thought.
The biggest stories this year. Have been about the cap. And how teams will handle it. Yet you think you have an answer.
Amazing when posters don’t even know how the game. They want to look smart commenting about changes before their eyes. Yet they are as blind as a bat.
Agains seriously. ,,,,, learn the game you want to criticize.
Good thing the gravity Giannis and Dame attract will provide Trent with plenty of wide open 3’s just like it did for Beasley last year.
In the WTF category for the Bulls again, Why exactly would you give LaVine a Max contract if he didn’t get along with Donovan? Just another head scratcher from the franchise of dysfunction. Just makes you keep going Huh?
The “source” talking to Cowley is Klutch Sports lmao
No way he left money on the table, lets see what happens I guess. I like him
Tobias will help Pistons ……. Good place for him.