Report: Gary Trent Jr. Makes Decision On $18.6M Player Option

With a player option at $18.6M, Gary Trent Jr. had the ability to decline and hit free agency this summer—at least that was the expectation throughout the season. Trent Jr. has made his decision, however, and surprisingly he is passing on free agency for now, opting IN to his contract to stay with the Toronto Raptors. 

Raptors' Gary Trent Jr. reportedly opts in and will not be hitting free agency this summer. 🦖 pic.twitter.com/5sSOeGPFFC

— theScore (@theScore) June 20, 2023

And that's not all. According to NBA Insider Chris Haynes, there's more: 

Gary Trent Jr. wants to remain with the Toronto Raptors and both sides will work on a longer term deal.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 20, 2023

Trent wants to stay with the Raptors and Haynes says that both sides are working on a longer-term deal.

The son of former Raptors power forward Gary Trent, Junior is a 3-and-D specialist, averaging 17.4 points this past season while shooting it at 37% from deep. He was also his usual pesky self on defense, pilfering 1.6 steals per game, which placed him in the top 10 league-wide (though behind teammates OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet).

If the teams aren't able to come to terms on a long-term contract, the Raptors have the option to use him as an attractive expiring contract in a trade, either this summer or at the deadline in February. Without an extension being signed, he'd become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports