The Milwaukee Bucks are already facing a potential down year, but a recent update by ESPN's Brian Windhorst could make a bad season even worse. Windhorst mentioned on a recent Hoops Collective podcast that an NBA executive believes what they were alleged to have done with Gary Trent Jr. was "more egregious" than what the LA Clippers did with Kawhi Leonard.
For those who don't recall, the NBA is investigating the Bucks for signing Trent Jr. to a four-year, $64 million deal. That, in and of itself, isn't out of the ordinary, even though he clearly isn't deserving of that contract.
However, the Bucks previously signed him for the minimum for two straight years only to pay him around $16 million annually on a new contract. That is highly unusual and suggests that the two sides may have worked out a deal long before he signed a long-term contract.
Brian Windhorst's Gary Trent Jr. update isn't what Bucks fans want to hear
The NBA recently threw the book at the Clippers, stripping them of five first-round picks and fining owner Steve Ballmer $30 million. If Windhorst is accurate in his reporting, then it would seem that the Bucks could be in for a world of hurt.
Imagine them trading star Giannis Antetokounmpo for three firsts and young talent only to be fined five first-rounders. That would be a disaster for a rebuilding Bucks team. Of course, if that were to happen, it would be entirely of the Bucks doing.
They are alleged to have circumvented the salary cap by signing Trent Jr. to less-than-market-value deals with the understanding that they would make it worth his while. That would be entirely on them.
The Bucks could face a similar punishment to the Clippers
The Clippers did largely the same thing. However, they funneled money through side deals to pay him even more despite already having signed him to a max contract. The Bucks, on the other hand, were able to get Trent Jr. on a steep discount back-to-back seasons, saving them from having to pay more in luxury tax.
That could weigh into the NBA's decision. At least with the Clippers, they were paying Leonard off the books but were also paying him a max contract. Meanwhile, Milwaukee is apparently paying Trent Jr. what he was owed from previous seasons this year.
There is definitely something fishy about that Trent Jr.'s contract, and if the NBA can find wrongdoing, the Bucks could be in for a punishment worse than what the Clippers received.
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