According to a tweet from TNT’s Chris Haynes, Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. will opt into his $18.5 million player option for the 2023-24 season. Haynes also reported that the 24-year-old Minnesota native is committed to negotiating a long-term deal that benefits both sides.
Trent Jr. had until Tuesday to decide whether he was going to pick up his player option or become an unrestricted free agent. He was expected to command north of $20 million in free agency, due in part to being one of the preeminent three-and-D players on the market. Fred VanVleet opted out of his $22.8 million player option for next season, and is expected to command over $30 million a year on his next deal; and the Raptors are hoping to sign Jakob Poeltl as well after acquiring him at the trade deadline from the San Antonio Spurs.
Trent Jr. averaged 17.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in 66 games this past season. He has been with Toronto since 2021 after he was acquired from the Portland Trailblazers in exchange for Norman Powell.
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