Jon Horst stood behind the four-year deal at media day while the NBA's look into the signing goes on.
The Milwaukee Bucks are still waiting on the NBA to finish its investigation into guard Gary Trent Jr.'s contract, and general manager Jon Horst used media day on Monday to explain why the team gave him that deal in the first place.
Horst did not comment on when the investigation might end, but he made a strong case for Trent as a player.
What Horst Said About Trent
Horst called Trent an elite shooter, pointed out that he is only 27 years old and said he was big for the Bucks in playoff moments.
He also said head coach Taylor Jenkins values that type of shooting, and Horst said he believes Trent will be used even better this season.
Horst summed it up by saying there is "a big belief in Gary for what we think matters, and that's elite shooting in the NBA," according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Trent said he had no comment on the investigation because it is ongoing, but he added that he hopes it gets resolved soon.
Co-owner Wes Edens said the team is working with the league.
Why the Deal Is Controversial
Trent re-signed with Milwaukee on a four-year, $64 million contract this summer, and he will make $15.2 million this season.
The Bucks made the signing official in mid-July, and the NBA opened its inquiry hours later, per the Journal Sentinel.
The league's concern is whether the Bucks and Trent's agency, Klutch Sports Group, had an illegal side agreement to pay Trent back for taking less money the previous two seasons.
Trent had played on much smaller deals with Milwaukee after signing in 2024 and again in 2025, and rival executives believe the late timing of the new agreement helped draw the league's attention, according to Hoops Rumors.
The probe into the signing started right away, and the stakes went up on Sept. 2, when the NBA handed the Los Angeles Clippers a $30 million fine and took five first-round picks from them in a separate circumvention case.
That has made the Bucks' situation look worse.
Is Trent Worth It?
On the court, Horst has a fair case, though it has holes.
Trent averaged 11.1 points and shot 41.6% from three in 2024-25, and he scored 18.8 points per game in five playoff games that spring.
Last season was a step back, as he averaged 8.1 points and shot 36.0% from three in 65 games.
There is a real debate about whether he is worth $64 million, and the answer depends on which version of Trent shows up.
With guard Tyler Herro now running the offense, Trent should get cleaner looks as a spot-up shooter, which fits the shooting role Horst talked about.
Milwaukee went 32-50 last season, so this team needs every shooter it can trust, and a confident Trent would help.
The bigger worry is the investigation, because if the league finds a side deal, Milwaukee could lose far more than a shooter, and until then Trent has to do his part in camp.
The Bucks open the preseason at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 5 and start the regular season at Washington on Oct. 21.
