“Everybody in the league expects a guilty finding” regarding the Bucks’ dealings with Gary Trent Jr., Brian Windhorst of ESPN states on the latest edition of The Hoop Collective podcast (Twitter video link).

The veteran shooting guard was signed to a four-year, $64MM contract in July after coming off an unproductive season that saw him average 8.1 points, 1.2 assists and 1.0 rebounds per game on 38.7% shooting. The NBA is investigating the deal to determine whether it was a form of salary cap circumvention.

Trent originally signed with Milwaukee for the veteran’s minimum in 2024, then accepted a small raise to $3.7MM via Non-Bird rights in 2025 after a strong first season with the team. The lucrative new contract this summer fueled speculation that Trent agreed to those first two team-friendly deals with a promise that the Bucks would reward him once they had the ability to offer more money using his Early Bird rights.

Windhorst’s comments were part of a discussion on the Bucks’ trade prospects following a 1-10 start to the season. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon believes virtually everyone on the roster could be made available ahead of the February 11 deadline, but it’s uncertain who will be running the front office if general manager Jon Horst gets suspended or fired for his actions in the Trent negotiations.

Windhorst adds that considering the state of Milwaukee’s roster and its lack of available draft assets, the job could be “the worst general manager opening in decades” if Horst has to be replaced.

Citing precedents set this summer with the results of the Clippers investigation and with Joe Smith and the Timberwolves in 2000, ESPN’s Bobby Marks predicts suspensions will be levied “for a long time” and draft picks will be stripped if the league determines the Bucks made illegal promises to Trent.