Toronto Raptors: Grading all major 2021 offseason acquisitions

$51,840,000 might look a little rich for a guy who barely shoots 40% from the field, but the money is actually a lot more comfortable than you’d think.

The Raptors are paying Trent roughly $17 mill a year for the next three years, with a player option in the third. While I’ll admit that’s a bit of a rich contract, it’s important to keep in perspective what the Raptors will be trying to do over those next two to three years.

Treading water in the lower end of the playoffs, re-tooling, and incubating our young talent.

The Raptors aren’t going to try and sign a big-time free agent and compete with the Nets in the next couple of years. They’d much rather have a 22-year old long-range creator who’s flashed the ability to average 20+ points a game.

What you’re getting from Trent in the short term?  A knockdown shooter (something the Raptors desperately need), a wing defender, and someone who really enjoys playing in Toronto.

"“For the first time in my career in the last three years, you know, I feel like I am wanted in a sense. They want me to be a part of something. They want me to help. So, I can’t even put it into words to be honest with you.” – Gary Trent Jr., in Raptors post-game availability."

Gary Trent Jr. could become a star for the Toronto Raptors.

If you’re still worried, know that his contract will expire by the time we’re looking to put that money elsewhere (rookies, free agents, etc.), but also that $17 million is the perfect size for a trade if we want to go in that direction. It’s a good number, I’m just saying.

Plus, considering that Trent averaged 18.1 points per game in his first 15 games as a Raptor before injuries impacted him negatively, could emerge as the perfect tertiary gunner for this offense.