Raptors news: Gary Trent Jr. vague on Toronto return, Fred VanVleet challenges Scottie Barnes

The Toronto Raptors face the possibility of losing Fred VanVleet, Jakob Poeltl, and Gary Trent Jr. in what promises to be a very important offseason. While he was terrible in the play-in game and didn’t perform as well after a late-season move to the bench, there’s reason to be optimistic about him.

Trent, who averaged 17.4 points per game and made 37% of his 3-pointers during his age-24 season, was dealing with injuries off and on for key portions of the season and wasn’t allowed to be as in charge offensively as he likely would have preferred. Executives will probably see through that brutal ending and give him a big contract.

The one-time trade chip is going to be the type of player that cashes in at this stage of his career, as teams across the league are always looking to get younger and add more 3-point shooting (except the Raptors, it appears). Trent did acknowledge that the business end of things could bring an end to his Raptors tenure, but he spoke highly of the city.

“I’ll sit down and talk to my team, and we’ll go in and see how everything plays out,” Trent said, via Daily Hive. “We know it’s a business. I love Toronto. Spent a great time here so far. It’s got good restaurants, good city, a great place to be.”

More Raptors news

• Fred VanVleet challenged Scottie Barnes to work on his game harder than he ever has in what might be a make-or-break offseason. “Just get in the lab,” VanVleet said. “That is the only thing I ever tell him. Scottie is going to be as good as he wants to be.
• OG Anunoby is getting into the ownership circle. Anunoby, who was born in England and moved to America at the age of four, has officially become a part-owner of the BBL’s London Lions.
• “I just want to do my part as a role model to all the young hoopers in London and across the entire U.K.,” Anunoby said.

NBA news

• Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, who has helped his team take a 2-0 series lead against the mighty Golden State Warriors, has been named the inaugural NBA Clutch Player of the Year. Anyone who has watched their first-round series will agree with that assessment.
• Memphis Grizzlies center Jaren Jackson Jr. also took home an award, as he was named Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league in blocks per game.
• Draymond Green has been suspended for Game 3 of the Warriors’ series against Sacramento after stepping on KIngs star Domantas Sabonis in an altercation.