As a Toronto Raptors fan, this can be a difficult time of year. The NBA playoffs have certainly been an exciting experience so far, but they are also a stark reminder of the fact that the Raptors missed the postseason this year for the third season in a row.
It has been quite a while since the Raptors were the powerhouse of the Eastern Conference they were for much of the 2010s. Toronto's magical run to the NBA Finals in 2019 seems an eternity ago, and now fans continue to wait for this team to return to relevancy.
In the meantime, it is hard not to take notice of all the enticing action taking place around the league in this postseason. As fans watch and observe, they of course take note of several of their team's former players thriving elsewhere. OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam likely being the biggest names in the minds of many.
But another, perhaps underrated, former Raptor fans have to be eyeing as well is Gary Trent Junior. The sharpshooting guard has been a consistently reliable threat for the Milwaukee Bucks in this postseason. Even though his team is on the verge of being eliminated, it's hard not to think Trent would be an ironically good addition for the current Raptors roster.
Gary Trent Jr. has been lighting it up for Milwaukee
Think about it. Toronto currently employs a bunch of ball-dominant shot creators that don't exactly operate ultra efficiently off-ball. On the flip side, Trent is a fantastic off-ball threat that roams around and shifts defenses with his spacing ability.
All playoffs with Milwaukee, he's been catching and shooting in space, making defenses pay with his red-hot prowess from outside. Trent has been a big asset to the Bucks' offense, especially with their need for more athleticism and shooting. Not to mention his savvy defensively, using active hands to disrupt opponents' possessions and turn them into fast break opportunities.
This is what Raptors fans got used to seeing from Trent at Scotiabank Arena between 2021 and 2024. Now, he's doing it on a playoff stage once again. Trent finished Milwaukee's Game 3 against Indiana with a playoff career-high 37 points, shooting 11-for-16 and making a stunning nine three-pointers in the contest.
There's no question Gary Trent Jr. has proven his value to a contending team. It's always difficult to watch former players go elsewhere and thrive, but perhaps there could be room for a reunion between Trent and Toronto somewhere down the line.