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Patrick Patterson: Raptors PF Reflects on Being Traded to Toronto

By Kevin Nimmock

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The NBA Trade Deadline marked an insane day across the league. Michael Carter-Williams, Kevin Garnett and Goran Dragic all found new homes. Many lesser-known players were also moved in deals that often gathered less press buzz, but may have major importance for their new teams in the future. Patrick Patterson, a power forward for the Toronto Raptors, has had his fare share of experience being traded. He recently penned this article for Players Tribune, in which he recounted being traded to the Raptors in 2013.

Patterson is a contributor for Players Tribune, a publication that allows professional athletes to share their opinions on social issues and the sports world, to varying degrees of success. This article was an absolute treat, in which Patterson shared one of the quirkiest stories of being traded possible.

“That December, I flew my parents and one of my best friends to Sacramento and we went to the movie theater to watch The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Great flick, by the way),” Patterson wrote.  “As we pulled up to the theater, my phone started blowing up with texts from friends telling me that I’d been traded. To be honest, my first thought was, Damn, it’s cold as shit in Toronto.”

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Patterson wrote that he was disappointed about being traded to Toronto, to the point where he called his agent upon arriving in the North to beg to be moved. Then, his opinions changed. The Raptors started winning, fans got behind Patterson and he began loving Toronto. His agent called him to say he had drummed up interest for him and Patterson said he was no longer interested in leaving his new home.

“If you told me two years ago that I’d be a Toronto Raptor, I would have thought you were crazy,” Patterson said. “But here I am, freezing my ass off, smiling and winning basketball games.”

Patterson has been a dynamic positive force for the Raptors since his trade. He is averaging 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, shooting 40% from 3-point range. He is a consistent and confident big man for the Raptors, sharing time with the equally popular Amir Johnson. Patterson will likely be a long term part of the team’s rotation, helping the Raps make a playoff push this year and the next (and the next, etc…).

In Dec. 2013, GM Masai Ujiri’s ability to trade Rudy Gay for Patterson and a few other key players greatly changed the Raptors’ path. The team instantly became winners, vaulting into third place in the Eastern Conference. It seems Raps fans are just as happy as Patterson that he was traded to Toronto.

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