Adam Silver’s NBA Investigating Bucks Star Over 5X Salary Raise Baffles Social Media – “Don’t Get the Fuss Over This”

Adam Silver and his NBA executives have been on high alert after the Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention allegations surfaced.

Adam Silver’s NBA Investigating Bucks Star Over 5X Salary Raise Baffles Social Media – “Don’t Get the Fuss Over This”

Gary Trent Jr. and Adam Silver (Image via FirstSportz)

Adam Silver and his fellow NBA executives are currently keeping track of and registering all the trades and free agency deals that are happening throughout the league.

The Commissioner and his task force have to review all the deals and ensure that none of them violate the rules and regulations set forth in the collective bargaining agreement.

That also means they have to keep an eye on every detail of the trades and deals so nothing becomes a legal issue down the line.

For that reason, they decided to put on hold the Kawhi Leonard trade from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Toronto Raptors until the third-party investigation is over.

Other than that one trade, they have not had to intervene in anything else. Then, ESPN’s lead insider Shams Charania revealed that it seems one contract extension did not make sense.

The NBA is probing the signed $64 million free-agent deal for Gary Trent Jr. with the Milwaukee Bucks, per a league spokesperson.

Shams Charania revealed on X

The Milwaukee Bucks had just handed Gary Trent Jr. a four-year, $64 million extension a few days ago. Usually, such news does not stick out for the casual folk, but the NBA felt there was something wrong in the way it was handed out.

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Fans left confused after Gary Trent Jr.’s contract extension investigation

This news of a probe left most basketball fans surprised. On one hand, they asked what was so alarming about a contract extension, even though it may seem that Gary Trent Jr. received a major pay raise.

Fans questioned whether this was Adam Silver and his executives carefully covering their bases, as the spotlight is on the NBA amidst growing allegations of rigging. Check out examples of those reactions below.

Adam Silver and his staff decided to investigate Gary Trent Jr.’s extension because four-year deals are not something role players generally get. Then, the said player earned just $3.7 million in the 2025-26 season.

For that to jump to $16 million sounded fishy. That is why they believe that this could be another instance of salary cap circumvention, the same allegations the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard are facing.

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Adam Silver needs Kawhi Leonard investigation to conclude before start of next season

The NBA is handling the probe into Gary Trent Jr.’s contract extension on its own. Adam Silver and his sleuths are capable enough to do it for now, unless they require outside help.

Kawhi Leonard's probe is still on
Kawhi Leonard’s probe is still on (Image via NBA Central/X)

But when it came to the Los Angeles Clippers-Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration investigation, the commissioner felt it was better that an outside agency take up the reins.

After all, the allegations and the sheer amount of proof probably forced Silver’s hand. Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg was alleged to have helped the Clippers funnel funds to Leonard. Now he is going to sit behind bars for 14 years.

All of this mounts the pressure on the league, and they have to get it done the right way. Adam Silver revealed on Tuesday to ESPN that he hopes the investigation concludes before the start of next season.

Otherwise, both the Clippers and the Raptors will have to make do with a difficult situation where they would not be able to make adjustments to their rosters.

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