Predicting where each Toronto Raptors’ free agent will play in 2023-24
By Dalton Sell
After falling short of the NBA Playoffs via the play-in tournament, the Toronto Raptors have a vital next few months on deck as they look to regroup.
By all accounts, it seems like the Raptors will not hit the reset button. The team may look to make a few minor tweaks, but they seemingly want to keep this group together. That notion is far easier said than done for the front office, as the team has an array of players set to hit free agency very soon, and not all of them will be back in Toronto next season.
With that said, let us predict where each of Toronto’s impending free agents will play on opening night next season.
Predicting where every Toronto Raptors free agent will play.
Gary Trent Jr. – Toronto Raptors
For the past few weeks, it seemed like a legitimate possibility that Gary Trent Jr. could find himself on a new team this off-season. Many expected the guard to decline his player option and test the waters of free agency, where teams with a ton of cap space, such as the Orlando Magic, would be waiting to make Trent an offer.
However, to the surprise of many, that will not be the case, as Trent has accepted his player option for next season and will remain a Raptor.
Trent opting into his $18.5 million option for next season was shocking, but there is logic behind it. Haynes followed up his initial reporting by saying that Trent wants to remain in Toronto and that he and the Raptors will work on a new long-term deal.
The two parties will now work to get that done on paper over the next few months, but Trent is not going anywhere anytime soon, taking a key free agent wing target off the board for opposing teams.
Gary Trent Jr. fits the Toronto Raptors.
Keeping Trent makes plenty of sense for the Raptors. Whether starting or coming off the bench, the wing has proven to be a quality scorer and perimeter shooter who complements the team’s best pieces.
At 24 years old, he’s also still incredibly young and has plenty of room to grow. It won’t be cheap, but keeping Trent is the correct move by the Raptors. It will be interesting to see how this decision by Trent hinders Toronto’s plans with their other free agents.