Trent was asked about the league's look into his new deal at media day, and he kept his answer short while making his goals for the season plain.
The NBA has been looking into the contract of shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. since the middle of July, and on Monday at Milwaukee Bucks media day he finally got asked about it in front of cameras.
Trent did not dodge the question, but he did not give much away either, and he made sure the focus stayed on basketball.
Trent Keeps It Short
When he was asked if he was frustrated that his deal was under investigation, Trent pointed back to the process.
"Like you said, it's an ongoing investigation so I really don't got no comment on it but hopeful it gets resolved soon."
That answer came from a video of the session posted on Monday.
Earlier, Trent said it felt great to come back, and he explained that the goal was to keep building, keep winning and chase championships, adding that winning takes care of everything.
Trent agreed to a fully guaranteed four-year, $64 million contract on July 11, and he will make $15.2 million this season.
The NBA is looking at the deal for a possible violation of the league's labor agreement, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on Monday that the league's concern is whether there was an illegal side agreement to make up for Trent taking less money in his previous two seasons with the Bucks.
The league hired the law firm Hecker Fink, and the paper also noted that the NBA opened its inquiry hours after Milwaukee made the signing official on July 16.
Why the Stakes Feel So High
On Sept. 2, the NBA announced its penalties against the Los Angeles Clippers in a separate salary cap case, and that ruling included the loss of five first-round picks and a $30 million fine.
The Bucks have every reason to take note of what happened there, even if the details of the two cases are different.
Team co-owner Wes Edens said on Monday that he could not comment and that the Bucks are working with the league, while general manager Jon Horst did not have a comment on when the investigation might be finished.
The basketball side of the deal has drawn questions too.
Trent averaged 8.1 points and shot 36.0% from three in 65 games last season, which was a drop from 11.1 points on 41.6% shooting from deep the year before.
There has been debate since July over whether Milwaukee paid too much, and it will not help if he struggles again.
What Comes Next
Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat in July in the deal that brought guard Tyler Herro to Milwaukee, which crowded a backcourt that may force another move, and head coach Taylor Jenkins now takes over a team that went 32-50 last season.
The Bucks open camp on Tuesday, host the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first preseason game on Oct. 5 and start the regular season at the Washington Wizards on Oct. 21.
The investigation is out of Trent's hands, and his best move is the one he pointed to on Monday.
If he gets back to the shooter he was two years ago, the Bucks will have one less thing to worry about while they wait on the league.
