East Notes: Bucks, Gary Trent Jr, Magic, Nets, Cam Johnson

Bucks

Veteran wing Gary Trent Jr. is receiving a one-year, $2.6 million contract from the Bucks, per Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Trent is also likely to be the Bucks’ starting shooting guard, Owczarski noted. Trent, of course, was a teammate of star point guard Damian Lillard when the two were with the Trail Blazers.

Milwaukee has done relatively well for itself in free agency, given its salary-cap limitations.

“The Bucks entered the 2024 free agency period as a team with limited flexibility regarding their roster, as they signed draft picks AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith,” Owczarski wrote. “With three roster spots to fill via free agency, the team had officially added guard Delon Wright and forward Taurean Prince.”

• One player who won’t return is point guard Patrick Beverley, who said he intends to sign in Israel.
• In case you missed it, today marks a milestone, as former Bucks guard Brandon Jennings became the first high school player to sign an overseas contract, as opposed to spending a year in college. We have the full story here.

Magic

Veteran guard Xavier Moon is looking to make a squad — if not Orlando, then somewhere — and has been making a decent case during the Las Vegas Summer League.

“He’s one of the most skilled guards I’ve ever played with and, to be honest, he deserves a job in the NBA,” Magic summer-league center Jay Huff said, per Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. “It’s great to see him get to show that.”

Added Magic summer coach Lionel Chalmers: “He’s helping other guys out. He has some experience, so he understands the game and he’s a very good point guard.”

• Free agent guard Markelle Fultz remains unsigned and it seems doubtful that Orlando brings him back. That’s especially the case after the team landed former Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
• Meanwhile, the Lakers were one team that supposedly had an interest recently in trading for Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. It’s not known if Los Angeles is still aiming to make such a deal. We have the full story here.

Nets

It’s hard to know what’s next for forward Cameron Johnson, who’s been at the center of some recent trade rumors. But if he stays with the Nets, he’ll undoubtedly have to get used to being without fellow wing Mikal Bridges for the first time in his career.

Bridges, of course, was traded to the Knicks. He also was a teammate of Johnson when the two were with the Suns.

“I got an ESPN alert. I probably learned after the trade, I was probably one of the last to know,” Johnson said, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “ESPN alert, that’s how I found out.”

“I guess, because I’ve played every game with him. But he’ll be good; I’ll be good. I’m looking forward to playing against him.”

Johnson added that in the NBA, all is possible. That includes the breakup of him and Bridges.

“You’ve just got to understand that this is a business, and teams are gonna do what’s in their best interest, and players will do what’s in their best interest,” Johnson said. “And our relationship goes beyond basketball. It goes beyond a team. That’s my brother for life, and I wish him the best. That’s all it comes down to — except when he plays us.”

• Johnson added he hasn’t been weighed down by the Bridges trade. “I just figured I have enough to worry about on my end in trying to just be working on myself, working on my body, working on my game,” he said, via Lewis. “Just taking that time in the offseason to get my mental right for another season; and then I’ll just let whatever happens, happens.”
• The Cavaliers were among those said to be interested in Johnson and forward Dorian Finney-Smith, though that was a few weeks ago. We have that full story here.