3. Gary Trent Jr.
Gary Trent Jr. has been impressive since getting traded to the Raptors. During the 14 games that he played for the Raptors, he is averaging 15.9 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game. But recently, he is coming off the bench in order to accommodate the returns of Lowry and VanVleet.
Trent has averaged 17.8 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game in games that he has started. Compare that to the two games where he came of the bench as a Raptor, he only averaged 4.5 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game while seeing his playing time cut in half.
Come to Toronto and get your career-high.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) April 30, 2021
Gary Trent Jr did it in like 9 games.
Khem Birch did it in like 7 games.
You might say that it’s only two games, that does not prove anything. Well, let’s see his overall stats from this season. During the 20 games where he came off the bench, counting his totals in Portland, he averages 10.4 points per game, two rebounds per game, and one assist per game.
Trent Jr. looks like he’s going to the motions and looks unmotivated. He should be an ideal bench player because he can come off the bench and score 15 points a night. But it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen at least not right now.
Gary Trent Jr. needs to become the Sixth Man for the Toronto Raptors
Since the Raptors signed Khem Birch a couple of weeks ago, and considering how he’s playing well at the center position, Birch needs to be in the starting lineup due to the fact Toronto is thin at center. Trent must adapt to his new role.
Trent was the odd man out because Lowry, VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and Pascal Siakam aren’t coming off the bench. They are more valuable in the starting lineup.
Trent is going to be an important part of the Raptors’ future, but he just needs to realize that he’s more helpful off the bench right now because Toronto needs bench scoring, especially with Chris Boucher out for a while.
He’s currently out due to a leg injury. And because of this injury, Trent Jr. has missed three games in a row. But once he’s back from his injury, he will be a key player off the bench for the playoff hopes.