Rastall Ramblings: Bucks Put Damper on Post-Giannis Enthusiasm with Trent Extension

As painful as it was to see the Milwaukee Bucks part ways with Giannis Antetokounmpo late last month, there was some relief to knowing that the nonstop drama regarding his future in Milwaukee was finally done and there would be young players to get excited about as they entered a rebuild.

Of course, since it’s the Bucks, one should know something supremely stupid is always awaiting around the corner.

Milwaukee stunned the NBA world with the news that they were signing Gary Trent Jr. to a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $64 million. This is the same Gary Trent Jr. whose play was so bad that he spent the latter part of last season not even in the rotation on a hapless Bucks team.

There has been speculation that this contract is general manager Jon Horst and the Bucks making good on some sort of handshake deal with Trent and his camp after he took minimum deals the last two years when the team was facing more of a cap crunch and desperately trying to salvage a title-contending supporting cast around Antetokounmpo.

If that’s the case, it’s the only way this contract makes even an iota of sense. Trent is represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group. Backing out of a handshake agreement with Trent and possibly hurting a relationship with one of the most powerful agents in the NBA could have some lasting consequences for the franchise, so it’s a bit of a no-win proposition.

Even with that acknowledged, there’s no way to spin the Trent contract as anything other than terrible for the Bucks. He played like a player worthy of nothing more than the league minimum last season. It’s entirely possible that Trent will enjoy a bounce-back campaign playing under Taylor Jenkins rather than The Man With The Hoarse Voice, but there is really no scenario where one can imagine Trent playing up to this contract.

Frankly, his level of play is at least partially beside the point. The Bucks were already facing a logjam at guard even before the Trent extension. The last thing they need is him taking valuable minutes away from some of the young guys who are more important to the future direction of the franchise.

The best-case scenario seems to be Trent thriving under Jenkins to at least make his contract not seem like a boondoggle, then his contract being used to match salaries or something in a trade down the road. But emphasis on that being the best-case scenario.

The inexplicable nature of the deal has led to some national writers and fans calling for the NBA to investigate the Bucks for circumventing the cap in their dealings with Trent over the last few years. Frankly, I don’t think that’s necessary. What punishment for the Bucks is going to be more fitting than having one of the league’s worst contracts on the books?