Report: Raptors Prepared To Move On From Gary Trent Jr.

According to NBA reporter Josh Lewenberg of TSN, the Toronto Raptors are prepared to move on from Gary Trent Jr.

Trent Jr. is an unrestricted free agent. 

“As of this writing, unrestricted free agent Gary Trent Jr. – who started 154 games for Toronto over the past three years – remains unsigned,” Lewenberg wrote. “While the door hasn’t been closed completely – the team is expected to meet with Trent’s representatives again in Las Vegas this week – multiple league sources believe the Raptors are prepared to move on from the 25-year-old guard.

“Per a source, the Raptors were willing to bring the sharpshooter back at an annual salary of around $15 million when the negotiation window opened last month, but Trent’s camp was looking for a raise on the $18.5 million he made last season. Something in the $25 million range was believed to be the ask, a misread of a market that hasn’t been kind to players of Trent’s ilk – a very good three-point shooter (38 percent as a Raptor) who has shown flashes in other areas but hasn’t been able to sustain them, especially on defense.”

Trent Jr. appeared in 71 games for the Raptors in 2023-24. He averaged 13.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.1 blocks while shooting 42.6% from the field, 39.3% from beyond the arc and 77.1% from the free-throw line. 

A Duke product, Trent Jr. has career averages of 14.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.2 blocks with the Portland Trail Blazers and Raptors. He was the 37th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. 

The Los Angeles Lakers could be interested in Trent Jr. According to NBA insiders Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic, LeBron James took $3 million less in his new deal to keep the Lakers under the second apron. 

Trent Jr. and Spencer Dinwiddie are two names to watch for if the Lakers clear enough space to use their taxpayer midlevel exception.