3 pleasant surprises on Raptors roster as home stretch begins

2. Gary Trent Jr.

Is it really worth calling Trent, who survived a deluge of trade rumors, a pleasant surprise when his per-game averages are identical to what we saw last season?

Considering how he has moved in between the starting lineup and the bench while producing after the Poeltl trade created another mouth to feed, Trent has only reaffirmed his case for a nine-figure deal.

While Trent’s 18.6 points and 1.7 steals per game are almost identical to his 2021-22 averages (18.3 PPG, 1.7 SPG), his 44% field goal percentage is tied for his best career mark. For the first time in his career, Trent is also shooting over 50% inside the arc. His biggest impact, however, may not be seen in the box score.

The Toronto Raptors need a shooter like Gary Trent Jr.

In both the New Orleans and Detroit victories, it was Trent who successfully nailed a pair of late 3-pointers that helped put those victories on ice. While Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam often dominate the ball in crunch time, both Trent and Scottie Barnes have shown to be calming presences in the fourth.

Trent, along with VanVleet, can opt out of the final year of his deal and hit the free agent market. While Toronto will have some difficult financial decisions to make, the idea of watching Trent play elsewhere in 2022-23 is looking harder to envision with each passing game.