TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 18: Gary Trent Jr. #33 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors decided that swapping out Norman Powell at the trade deadline ahead of his impending contract was imperative if they want to get younger and more financially flexible, and they accomplished that goal by sending No. 24 to the Portland Trail Blazers to get a guard in Gary Trent Jr. that has plenty of quality basketball ahead of him.
Trent had to fight and claw his way onto the roster in Portland after being taken in the second round, but his play in the Disney bubble in 2020 and with Toronto in 2021 showed that he has the traits needed to become a quality starting guard in this league.