Raptors: Norman Powell proves TOR must be patient with Gary Trent Jr.

The Toronto Raptors were able to trade Norman Powell to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Gary Trent Jr. with the expectation that despite his restricted free agency, the former Duke star would be an integral part of their future rotation.

While the Raptors do have some control over Trent’s future that could see them decline to match an RFA offer sheet, the expectation is that Trent will be back in Toronto on a multi-year contract. Trent averaged 16.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game during his tenure with the Raptors.

While some impatient fans might want to dump him for someone who could provide a more immediate impact, citing his low 39.5% shooting percentage from the field and substandard defense, that type of thinking could help the Raptors miss out on one of the best young shooting guards in the East.

Considering that the Raptors were able to develop Powell from a seldom-used second-round player into a quality tertiary gunner, giving up on Trent, who is almost a full year younger than Malachi Flynn, would show an uncharacteristic lack of patience.

Gary Trent Jr. has a bright future with the Toronto Raptors.

Trent’s numbers at the end of the year were weighed down by a poor finish to the season, as he missed a ton of time due to injury and often played when he wasn’t 100%. That would explain the 8-36 shooting line in his final two games.

Meanwhile, in the 10 games he played before that while fully healthy, Trent averaged 18.4 points per game on 46.7% shooting and 41% from the 3-point line. Mixed into that stretch was a buzzer-beater against Washington, one of the best plus-minus lines in NBA history versus Golden State, and a 44-point outburst against Cleveland. 

It took Powell until 26 years old before he was able to crack double-digits in points per game. Trent has done that at age 22, and the Raptors might be able to lock him down for an average annual value way below the top young shooting guards in the game. As a sixth man or starter, Trent offers a ton of value for Toronto.

Sure, he may not become Gary Payton on the defensive end. Even with that, he’s by no means a finished product. The defense can improve. If it does, and he manages to play as he did during his first 10 games, fans who wanted Trent gone will have to eat their words.

While the Raptors must be careful about avoiding an overpay that would handicap the team financially for years to come, there is a ton to like about Trent and his potential with the Raptors, and ditching him in the name of a more immediate return could come back to bite Toronto in the butt.