The Raptors have several appealing players that many teams are monitoring. And given their predicament, they may decide to part with one or more important components. Sharpshooter Gary Trent Jr. is one of them.
Four ideal destinations for Raptors’ star sharpshooter Gary Trent Jr.
Gary Trent Jr. has a player option for the 2023-24 season, as his current contract will expire at the end of this season. It’s possible that Masai Ujiri and the front office will try to trade him next month to avoid having to pay Trent Jr. the rumored $20 million or more he will likely demand in free agency.
Even if the Raptors don’t decide to trade the former Duke star, he’d be useful to a number of different teams. For Gary Trent Jr., these are the four most desirable off-season destinations.
- Los Angeles Clippers
With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George healthy and back to full strength, the Clippers were anticipated to be a serious title contender this season. However, Ty Lue’s squad hasn’t had the best of luck. After completing knee rehabilitation, Leonard experienced health issues. PG doesn’t suit up very often either, with only 30 total appearances. The offense, in particular, is struggling mightily, as they currently sit in 28th place in PPG and 27th place in offensive rating.
Despite being second in the league in bench scoring, the Clippers could use another proven scorer with Leonard and George continuing to deal with injury issues. He’s the type of guy who can take charge and deliver results. He is scoring nearly 20 points per game, after all.
Related: Paul George’s injury status announced by Los Angeles Clippers
- L.A Lakers
It’s common knowledge that the Lakers need to make a splash before the trade deadline. LeBron James essentially said the same thing in an interview last week. With Anthony Davis still out, he needs backup, and he hasn’t gotten it yet. Even the King needs help from his subjects. Trent Jr. could be a good addition for LA, who are three games under.500 and could use some scoring help off the bench.
He could replace the horrendous Patrick Beverley in the starting lineup at small forward for the 2022-23 season. Trent Jr. has a significant role for Toronto and is a versatile scorer who averages 18.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on 36% shooting from deep.
In case you hadn’t heard, the Lakers are 24th in the NBA at making threes (at a 34.1% clip), which is abysmal. Trent Jr. can take advantage of Bron and Russell Westbrook’s playmaking and provide Darvin Ham with a legitimate scoring threat.
Although Los Angeles has only a few second-round picks to offer, the team must find a way to make this deal if they want to make a run at a playoff spot. The implications could be huge.
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- Phoenix Suns
The Suns are in terrible shape after finishing with 64 wins last season. They’re tied at 21 right now despite being plagued by injuries. Unfortunately, Devin Booker’s groin injury has prevented him from returning to the lineup. Deandre Ayton, Chris Paul, Cam Payne, and Cam Johnson are all ill. There has been little consistency so far, but Phoenix did just beat the Warriors with their full roster on Tuesday night in the Bay Area.
Gary Trent Jr. now appears. The absence of Johnson is the primary factor in this being beneficial for the Suns. He has not yet returned to the court for full-contact drills. When it comes to making threes, he is a top option for the team. Trent Jr. is also an excellent marksman. Since Book and CP3 are starting in the backcourt, this is a position for which Trent Jr. would come off the bench. However, this opens the door for the Raptors guard to take charge of the team’s second unit and relieve some of Booker’s scoring burden.
Phoenix can use the remaining $10.1 million on Jae Crowder’s contract to acquire Trent Jr., possibly as part of a three-team deal that sends the veteran to another franchise and brings the youngster to the desert.
- New York Knicks
After a quiet offseason, the addition of Jalen Brunson has made a huge impact on the Knicks, giving Tom Thibodeau a deadly scorer and playmaker in the paint. New York is currently 22-19 thanks in large part to Julius Randle’s resurgence. Even though RJ Barrett has yet to fully recover from his finger injury, the Knicks have Gary Trent Jr. available to start at small forward alongside rookie Jalen Brunson. The team is reportedly also thinking about trading for Immanuel Quickley and Derrick Rose before the deadline. The Raptors may try to acquire Quickley in exchange for Trent. New York City has a dismal 33.9% success rate from the heart of the city. Whether he’s in the starting lineup or the bench, Trent Jr. improves their three-point shooting immediately. These are factors that the Knicks cannot ignore.
