Contrary to popular belief and expectation, shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. has made the decision to opt into the final year of his contract with the Toronto Raptors.
Having been a candidate for an offseason opt-out for lengthy period of time, the 24-year-old is expected to play the 2023-24 season for the Raptors, while hoping to negotiate a contract beyond the coming year.
“Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. will opt into his $18.5 million player option for the 2023-24 season, CEO Rich Paul and agent Lucas Newton of Klutch Sports tells NBA on TNT and Bleacher Report,” senior insider Chris Haynes reported.
“Gary Trent Jr. wants to remain with the Toronto Raptors and both sides will work on a longer term deal,” Haynes added.
Although somewhat surprising, that news is certainly exciting for Raptors fans, who initially received the former 2018 second round pick from the Portland Trailblazers back in March, 2021 as the major return in the Norman Powell deal.
The 2018 NBA Draft was 5 years ago today!
2nd round picks
33: Jalen Brunson
34: Devonte' Graham
36: Mitchell Robinson
37: Gary Trent Jr
42: Bruce Brown
54: Shake MiltonUndrafted
Duncan Robinson pic.twitter.com/H66lOCthA9— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 21, 2023
In agreeing to his $18.5 million player option rather than demanding a deal north of $20 million, the 6-foot-5, 210-pound small forward in-turn helps Toronto’s hopes of retaining one or both of Jakob Poeltl and long-time point guard Fred VanVleet, who recently declined his own player option for 2023-24.
Should the Raptors proceed without any major shakeup over the next two weeks, Trent Jr. would be eligible to sign a four-year max extension with Toronto to the tune of $114 million as early as July 6. That contract would see a first year salary of $26 million. But whether he and general manager Bobby Wagner go that direction remains up in the air.
-
EP 136: Week 3 Studs and Duds
by Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 7:01 pm
“Similar to Fred, we’re having those conversations with Trent,” the Raptors’ GM did say following the Darko Rajakovic introductory press conference last week. “You can opt in, you can do a lot of things. He has a lot of things at his disposal, as do we.”
“We’re able to have a lot of those conversations, whether it’s long term, short term, so similar to Fred, which is we’re in communication with him.”
Last season, Trent Jr. put up 17.4 points, 1.6 steals and 2.5 three-pointers per game. He finished the year Top-10 in steals per game, despite being No. 3 on the Raptors. He was also one of just three players across the entire league with 350+ three-pointers and 200+ steals over the past two years. Teammate VanVleet and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards were the other two players.
Should Trent Jr. decide to sign the long-term extension in Toronto, he would clearly be playing in a city – and for a country – that he appreciates.
“It means everything,” Trent Jr. told Sportsnet’s Amy Audibert back in 2022 when asked what it means to play for Canada’s only team. “You know, they brought me in with open arms and they showed me nothing but unconditional love, no matter how I’m playing. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
Gary Trent Jr has been publicily called out by his head coach and had an inconsistent role all season.
Instead of opting-out first chance and going to another team where he would start, he decided to opt-in and wants to stay in Toronto long term.
Defintion of a pro. pic.twitter.com/dB9j3Y8DGZ
— . (@GTJGotNext) June 20, 2023
Although falling off the map at times last season, Trent Jr. can be an incredibly productive shooting guard. And with Nick Nurse – AKA: his main skeptic in 2022-23 – no longer running the bench, his numbers should get back to what they were a season ago.
Through three seasons as a member of the Raptors, Trent Jr. has averaged 17.7 points per game to go alongside 37 percent shooting from the three-point line in 153 games.
-
Ep 171: Discussing The Career Of George Kunz With Son Mattby Full Press Coverage on September 23, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by Matt Kunz, son of former Colts lineman George […]
-
Ep 170: The 1986 Giants With Gary Myersby Full Press Coverage on September 15, 2023 at 9:44 pm
HOF voter and author Gary Myers joins Clark and Ira to discuss his new […]
-
Ep 169: Discussing Art Powell and the AFL With Historian Todd Tobiasby Full Press Coverage on September 3, 2023 at 3:04 pm
AFL historian Todd Tobias joins Clark and Ira to talk Art Powell and the […]
-
Ep 168: Hall of Fame Finalist Randy Gradishar Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on August 24, 2023 at 8:44 pm
Former Broncos linebacker and member of the Orange Crush Defense, Randy […]
-
How Evaluating Offensive Tackles takes on a new identity in today's gameby LandryFootball.com on September 28, 2023 at 10:00 am
Some years ago, Bill Parcells told me that regarding the types of players […]
-
Breaking down the Good & Bad of Coaching Decisions in week 3 of NFLby LandryFootball.com on September 27, 2023 at 11:00 pm
There were multiple analytically interesting decisions made in Week 3. […]
-
Ep 307: FAAB Talk and Taylor Swiftby Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 1:55 am
-
Ep 306: Week 2 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 3:06 am
-
Ep 305: TE Target Totals from Week 1by Full Press Coverage on September 12, 2023 at 2:28 am
-
Ep 304: The NFL Season Is Hereby Full Press Coverage on September 7, 2023 at 3:13 am
-
Ep 185: Week 4 Preview vs Lionsby Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 12:36 am
A solo Senra show. For this episode, Kyle Senra previews the upcoming […]
-
Ep 184: Week 3 Instant Reactionby Full Press Coverage on September 25, 2023 at 12:47 am
The Green Bay Packers were in another 1-point game, this time a 18-17 win […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes- 9- 28 - Hurricanes steal 4-1 preseason win over the Panthersby Full Press Coverage on September 28, 2023 at 4:30 pm
The Hurricanes scored 3 goals in 3 minutes in the 3rd period to eliminate […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - 9-27 - First Preseason Game. First Preseason Win!by Full Press Coverage on September 28, 2023 at 1:30 pm
The Hurricanes dominated the scoring in their first preseason matchup with […]
-
Full Press Islanders - 9-27 - Recap of Preseason openerby Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 3:15 pm
We talk about last nights loss in the Preseason opener to the Rangers and […]
-
Full Press Wild - 9-27 - Recapping the Wild’s preseason loss to Dallas.by Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Preseason, Stars, Wild Learn more about your ad choices. Visit […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 797by Charlie Saunier on September 27, 2023 at 5:01 am
Renegades Of Puck Ep 797 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Last Season, […]
-
Full Press Kraken - 9-26 - Preseason games, numbers, notes.by Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 10:15 pm
Reviewing the split squad games and numbers Learn more about your ad […]
-
9/28 - Dame Traded, Zach Wilson And The Jets, Packers/Lions Previewby Full Press Coverage on September 28, 2023 at 2:07 pm
Ian and John discuss the Damian Lillard trade, the Jets predicament with […]
-
9/26 - Eagles/Bengals Win On MNF, Mac Jones, and Much Moreby Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Ian and John discuss the Eagles and Bengals wins on Monday Night Football, […]
-
9/25 - Week 3 Reactions, Dolphins Hang 70, Biggest Disappointmentsby Full Press Coverage on September 25, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Ian and John react to a fascinating Week 3 in the NFL and talk about some […]
-
9/22 - 49ers Move To 3-0, Week 2 Picks and Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Ian and John discuss the 49ers win over the Giants on Thursday Night […]
-
9/21 - Thursday Night Football Preview; NFL MVP Talkby Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Ian and John preview Thursday Night Football between the Giants and 49ers […]
-
9/19 - Monday Night Recap, State of Quarterback Play, 2-0 Teamsby Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Ian and John discuss MNF and talk about the state of quarterback play. […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Patriots at Cowboys -Cardinals at 49ersby Broken Controller Media on September 28, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
San Antonio Spurs Previewby Broken Controller Media on September 28, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
Bengals at Titans - Raiders at Chargersby Broken Controller Media on September 28, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
9/28 - Dame Traded, Zach Wilson And The Jets, Packers/Lions Previewby Full Press Coverage on September 28, 2023 at 2:07 pm
-
Damian Lillard Traded To Bucksby Full Press Coverage on September 28, 2023 at 2:02 pm
-
Episode 114: The Bears Are Who We Thought They Wereby Full Press Coverage on September 28, 2023 at 3:07 am
-
Full Press MMA - 9-27 - Dana White speaks to Adesanya’s drinking & driving caseby Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Broncos at Bears - Buccaneers at Saints - Ravens at Brownsby Broken Controller Media on September 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Falcons at Jaguars - Rams at Colts - Commanders at Eaglesby Broken Controller Media on September 27, 2023 at 2:50 pm
-
Boot 2 The Face "The Rock Says..."by Boot 2 The Face on September 24, 2023 at 3:12 pm
On this episode of B2TF we talk AEW, WWE, NXT, Becky Lynch, Jey Uso, Raw, […]
-
Boot 2 The Face "She Was Portly"by Boot 2 The Face on September 14, 2023 at 11:57 pm
In the latest episode we talk Jey Uso and his move to Monday Night Raw. We […]
-
Shock Waves in Pro Wrestling: A McMahon No Longer Owns WWEby Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again as he discusses the history made as Vince […]
-
Wrestling World is Changing: From CM Punk To Vince McMahon to LA Knightby Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Justin Starr as they break the […]
-
Ep 183: The Sandmanby Full Press Coverage on September 23, 2023 at 2:00 pm
This week we're diving back into the extreme and looking at the career of […]