After a 1-4 start, the Milwaukee Bucks season is going about as expected without Giannis Antetokounmpo, proving he got out at the right time. Especially after recent news surrounding the NBA's investigation into Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, an NBA executive suggested that what Milwaukee allegedly did with Trent Jr. is worse than what the LA Clippers did with Kawhi Leonard in terms of salary cap circumvention.
If true, that casts a massive cloud over the Bucks season, considering that the Clippers were already punished by having five first-round picks confiscated and their owner fined $30 million. The Bucks can't afford that type of setback after trading away their best player in franchise history at the beginning of a rebuild.
Gary Trent Jr. twist shows Giannis escaped the Bucks at the right time
If the Bucks are found to have circumvented the salary cap by re-signing Trent Jr. to a 4-year, $64 million deal, then it only proves Giannis got out of town at the right time. Then again, the Bucks are likely in this situation because they were trying to appease Giannis.
Milwaukee signed Trent Jr. to a minimum contract back-to-back seasons, allegedly with the understanding that they would later give him a massive contract. After averaging just 8.1 points per game last season, Trent Jr. has played only three minutes this season.
As a result, his contract looks to be wildly overpaid given his production. That strongly suggests that he is being paid for past seasons. It lends credence to the NBA's investigation that the Bucks circumvented the salary cap by making a handshake agreement with him.
Giannis Antetokounmpo made the right call not staying with the Bucks
Giannis and the Miami Heat aren't exactly lighting the world on fire at the moment, but the best version of that team is better than the best version of the Bucks this season. For Milwaukee's sake, they will be vindicated of any wrongdoing in the Trent Jr. investigation.
Then again, even if there wasn't any salary cap circumvention, why did they sign a player who averaged only 8.1 points to around $16 million annually? Either way, the Bucks don't look great, but they would probably prefer to be seen as incompetent rather than rulebreakers.
No matter what happens, Giannis' decision to move on from the Bucks seems like a smart one. He's in a better situation in Miami while the Bucks are a long way from figuring out what comes next.
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