NBA
Toronto’s Gary Trent Jr. opts into his $18.5 million player option, with hopes of securing a long-term deal
Zach Wolpin is an NBA and NFL expert who's been betting on the league for over three years now. Wolpin has been a fan of the NBA and has been watching for a decade and a half. He covers the latest news and stories surrounding the league daily. His passion in life is watching sports and being able to share that through his sports writing. He has written about the NBA and other sports leagues through various media outlets over the years like Sir Charles In Charge, G-Men HQ, and TAP into South Plainfield. Before he became an NBA News Writer, Wolpin attended Montclair State University where he graduated in 2021. He studied Sports Media and Writing while in school.
All posts by Zach WolpinUpdated20 Jun 2023
With free agency starting on July 1, teams across the league are trying to secure players they already have on their roster. Toronto’s Gary Trent Jr. is one of those players. Despite not receiving a long-term deal this offseason, he’s coming back next season. NBA insiders have reported that Trent Jr. is opting into an $18.5 million player option.
This was first reported by Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report. The 24-year-old had hopes of signing a long-term contract this offseason. It’s said that he could get a deal worth $18-20 million annually. Toronto was hesitant to give him that kind of money this offseason.
However, if he starts next season strong, he could earn himself a contract extension in-season. As a team, the Raptors missed out on the postseason, but Trent Jr. has a solid year individually. He was traded to the Raptors during the 2020-21 season and has found his role with the team.
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 @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 20, 2023
Gary Trent Jr. is returning to the Raptors next season on an $18.5 million player option
This move to sign an $18.5 million player option for the 2023-24 season is smart for Gary Trent Jr. It gives him the opportunity to earn a contract extension next season. On top of that, it makes him an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.
Trent Jr. could finish out his next season with the Raptors and potentially sign for a bigger deal after the season’s end. In 66 games played with 44 starts in 2022-23, he averaged (17.4) points, (2.6) rebounds, (1.6) assists, and (1.6) steals per game.
When playing his best basketball, Trent Jr. has the potential to be a 50/40/90 player. He’s a versatile 3-and-D guard that only has room to grow. Chris Haynes reported that a desire to stay with the Raptors played into his decision to sign the player option. He also said the two sides will remain to explore a possible multi-year agreement.
