The Toronto Raptors will likely be active when trade season rolls around, as they could look to rework their roster before they have to pay some of their big names. Considering the fact that he could potentially opt out of his contract after the season, Gary Trent Jr. has often been pegged as a player who could be on the move.
While he has been somewhat resurrected this season after moving to the bench, the totality of his stats this year show that he can stand to improve. Even after hanging 35 bench points on the Pelicans, Trent’s scoring, 3-point percentage, and assists are all down when compared to last year.
Trent could be on the move if the Raptors are given an intriguing enough offer. With a Pascal Siakam contract looking and Fred VanVleet’s situation to deal with, trading Trent could help Toronto restock their depth while simultaneously freeing themselves of yet another potentially nine-figure contract.
The Raptors will likely get interest from dozens of teams if Trent is made available, though a group of five stands out above the rest. Given their respective desires to get a deal done and their treasure trove of assets, Toronto could be very well compensated for their young sniper.
Toronto Raptors rumors: 5 teams who could trade for Gary Trent Jr.
5. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets’ offensive strategy is as clear as day. Letting Nikola Jokic cook is obviously their main way of attacking teams, but they have also surrounded arguably the best passer in the game with an array of shooters. Trent would fit right in with Denver’s mindset.
Names like Bones Hyland and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have Denver ranked among the league’s best offenses, while Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. remain promising young talents. Perhaps sending away one of their cheaper shooters in exchange for Trent could appeal to Calvin Booth in Denver?
Will the Toronto Raptors trade Gary Trent Jr. to Denver?
Much like Toronto did in the original Trent/Norman Powell trade, the Raptors could part with a very good guard that can contribute to a contender while getting back a similar player who won’t be as expensive. The structure of Jokic’s contract will limit Denver’s options in free agency, so they might need to trade for an impact shooter.
With two MVP seasons from Nikola Jokic already having gone by the wayside without a Finals appearance, Denver could feel pressured to go all in. That motivation might force them to overpay and give Toronto a ridiculous haul while freeing them from the responsibility of paying Trent.
4. New Orleans Pelicans
If the Raptors are coveting draft capital, very few contenders have more to offer than New Orleans. The Anthony Davis trade has given them enough first-round picks to eventually cash them in and acquire a role player that can be a dynamo off the bench.
Devonte Graham is likely not a piece of the long-term future in New Orleans. The starting five appears to be set in stone with CJ McCollum at point guard, but swapping out Graham for Trent and pairing him with top pick Dyson Daniels would supercharge an already lethal Pelicans offensive attack.
The Pelicans could give the Toronto Raptors picks for Gary Trent Jr.
Even though the Raptors have built a consistent winner, they are still not going to be a premier free agent destination. This move could help them get enough draft picks to consistently add new role players to the fold, while simultaneously increasing their stockpile of assets to flip for a star.
The Pelicans have built a team that could easily compete for a championship in the near future, but they need one more X-factor on the bench to do that. Trent has taken to the bench very well, and he should keep up his solid play in New Orleans.
3. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are going to throw caution to the wind in order to maximize their championship window in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s prime. That includes largely pushing the draft to the side in order to add role players that can drill open 3-pointers after Giannis sucks the defense inside.
Brook Lopez and Joe Ingles are both free agents after this season, and Grayson Allen only has one year left on his deal. Why not combine all of the money allocated to those players and make a run at a potential long-term answer at shooting guard like Trent?
Can the Milwaukee Bucks steal Gary Trent Jr. from the Toronto Raptors?
The Bucks might be the hardest team of the five to get a deal done with, as their draft picks will be less valuable thanks to how late they will be and the fact that most of their money is tied up in three players. Still, an aggressive executive like Jon Horst may just go broke and add Trent.
The Bucks with Trent might be the most complete offense in the league, while the Raptors could end up building a future centered entirely around Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and young dynamo Scottie Barnes.
2. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have been linked to Trent, as they could get a bit frustrated with trying to simultaneously compete for a championship with a veteran roster and developing some of their young players. If they add a player, picking up another guard off the bench makes sense.
Klay Thompson is clearly starting to get his talent sucked out by the vengeful Father Time, and Jordan Poole has underperformed this year. With enough young players to get Toronto interested in potentially making a deal, Golden State shouldn’t be counted out just yet.
The Golden State Warriors could use Toronto Raptors SG Gary Trent Jr.
The Warriors appear ready to move off James Wiseman, and the club seems to be running out of development time for Jonathan Kuminga. One of them being the headliner in a Trent package might be something that gets Ujiri’s head turned toward San Francisco.
The Warriors have holes on their roster that Trent can’t fix, but Steve Kerr is never going to turn down an opportunity to bring in another young shooter. Golden State has plenty of young players who need a second chance in an environment willing to let them develop.
1. Los Angeles Lakers
Not only do the Lakers have a very open need for a player like Trent, but they haven’t been shy about making their interest in the Klutch Sports client known. The Lakers lack the draft capital to make a move, but they could get creative if a third team gets involved.
LA will only have LeBron James for a few more years, and Anthony Davis has been on fire lately. It would be a genuine shame if they wasted this production, which could prompt them to seriously pursue adding one more big name that can inject some pizzazz into the offense.
The Los Angeles Lakers want Toronto Raptors stud Gary Trent Jr.
The big obstacle when it comes to adding Trent is Russell Westbrook, as he is a huge negative asset that Toronto would have no desire to take on. It’s incumbent on Masai Ujiri and Rob Pelinka to rope a third team into this to make the money catch up and get Trent in forum blue.
When the dust settles, Toronto may end up with some first-round picks and a handful of backups who could help beef up the bench in the short term. The Lakers, meanwhile, could have their fourth nine-figure contract on the roster, a fate Toronto is trying to avoid.