3 reasons for optimism after Raptors pick up win vs. Blazers
By Mike Luciano
2. Gary Trent Jr. is locked in
Trent is back in the starting lineup after a brief stint on the bench, and he has reenergized a team that has lacked any dynamic ability on the perimeter. Trent may have been mentioned as a trade target, but he’s playing so well that the Raptors’ offense would fall apart without him.
Trent has averaged 25.0 points per game in his last six contests, crossing 27 points three times and 30 points twice. The fact that he’s doing this while playing alongside an underperforming bench is even more impressive, showing how tremendous he is at hitting shots with defenders draped all over him.
Gary Trent Jr. is the best shooter on the Toronto Raptors.
After Nick Nurse called rent out for not going as hard as he did on the defensive end, Trent is back to being one of the best young two-way guards in the league. His deflections are solid, and he’s nailed 44.6% of his 3-point attempts on eight attempts per game.
Suppose the Raptors can keep Trent for the long haul. In that case, they’ll end up with a player that can be an impact player on both ends for the next half-decade while providing a surplus of perimeter shooting for a team that is still multiple offseasons away from becoming elite in that area. That’s worth such a gaudy price tag.