The NBA is investigating the circumstances surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks’ signing of Gary Trent Jr. that was officially announced Thursday.
An NBA spokesman said that “the NBA is continuing to look into it.” ESPN first reported that the NBA was investigating the signing for possible circumvention of the salary cap.
Although the Bucks didn’t disclose terms when they announced the signing, ESPN has reported Trent received a four-year, $64 million deal. He’s getting that lucrative deal after a season in which his statistics dipped.
Trent is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he scored 8.1 points per game and played 21.2 minutes per game for Milwaukee. Those represented his lowest averages in both categories since his rookie season of 2018-19.
The 6-foot-4 guard had joined the Bucks in 2024 by signing for the veteran minimum after a season in which he had scored 13.7 points per game and had shot 39.3% from 3-point range for the Toronto Raptors.
He returned to the Bucks last year after scoring 11.1 points per game and shooting 41.6% from 3-point range with Milwaukee in 2024-25. He had capped that 2024-25 season by scoring over 30 points in two of the Bucks' five playoff games during their first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The contract Trent signed last year included a $3.9 million player option for 2026-27 that he declined before agreeing to this new deal.
The concerns over salary cap circumvention involve whether there was a prior agreement that Trent would be rewarded now if he signed below-market deals each of the last two years.
While the situations aren't similar, this probe comes as the NBA also investigates whether the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented salary cap rules involving a $28 million endorsement contract between seven-time all-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard and the now-bankrupt California-based sustainability services company called Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC. That investigation has put the Clippers' trade of Leonard to the Toronto Raptors on hold.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
FILE - Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) plays in the first half of an NBA basketball game Jan. 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — B.J. Callaghan has had people reach out to him wanting to talk soccer thanks to the World Cup, and the Nashville coach believes this is a big moment as Major League Soccer starts the second half of this season.
“It's all of our jobs that are involved in soccer to continue to grow that game and capitalize on it,” Callaghan said Thursday. “Specifically about Nashville. Listen, our bandwagon has plenty of space on it for people that want to come. They're more than welcome.”
Nashville certainly has given fans plenty to watch.
Not only did Nashville spend the World Cup break atop the MLS standings with 33 points, the franchise tied for the best start to an MLS season in the last 25 years. Nashville also leads the Eastern Conference allowing the fewest goals (11) and with the best goal differential (plus-20).
When Nashville hosts Atlanta on Friday night in its first match in 54 days, the roster features a league-high four All-Stars in goalkeeper Brian Schwake, defender Andy Najar, midfielder Hany Mukhtar and forward Sam Surridge. This is Mukhtar's fifth All-Star nod.
“Maybe we’ll get a couple more too," Callaghan said of the All-Star Game in Charlotte on July 29. "Maybe I’m a greedy coach, but I know I think there’s a lot of guys on our team that are deserving of it.”
Home is the largest soccer-specific stadium in the U.S. where GEODIS Park has a capacity of 30,109. Nashville has averaged 27,527 over 10 combined home games this year.
Taking a break when a team is playing well can be challenging. Nashville was on an eight-match unbeaten streak with its last MLS loss April 4 at Chicago Fire. Nashville also is the only MLS team yet to lose on its home pitch with a 6-0-1 record and outscoring opponents 23-9 at GEODIS Park.
Nashville also became the first MLS team to win at Estadio Azteca in Mexico, beating Club America in April to reach the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals.
Callaghan called the second half of this season a clean slate for everyone in MLS working to improve rosters and improve. He wants to see Nashville playing with intensity and an attacking mindset.
“We know that we’re going to have to kind of continue to improve each and every time,” Callaghan said. "You don’t just restart where you left off.”
Now Nashville has its own World Cup connection, announcing Thursday the addition of attacker Elias Saad on loan from FC Augsberg of the German Bundesliga through May. Saad started two of Tunisia's three World Cup matches and takes up an international roster spot.
Saad, 26, has three goals and two assists in 28 career matches with FC Augsberg.
Callaghan didn't have a timetable for Saad's arrival. He said Nashville was very intentional looking to add someone who brings versatility and another strong attacker to a talented group.
Surridge, who had just returned May 23 from a back injury before the break, is just one of Nashville's players who used the break between MLS games to heal up and get stronger. Surridge is tied for the fifth-most goals in MLS this season with nine despite injuries limiting him to just eight league games.
"Hopefully, I can bring that into the season and just carry on doing what I’ve been doing,” Surridge said.
Midfielder Eddie Tagseth and Najar both are questionable, while Callaghan said midfielder Patrick Yazbek will be out for a bit longer.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
FILE - Nashville SC forward Sam Surridge (9) heads the ball as Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba (18) and midfielder Sergio Busquets (5) defend during the second half of a MLS soccer match, Oct. 18, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
FILE - Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar, left, moves the ball past Club America midfielder Erick Sánchez (28) during the first half of an CONCACAF Champions Cup first leg quarterfinal soccer match, April 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)
FILE - U.S. head coach BJ Callaghan reacts during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal soccer match against Panama, July 12, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
