Trail Blazers wing Gary Trent Jr. intends to play out the 2020/21 season and reach restricted free agency rather than signing an early contract extension, as Jason Quick of The Athletic tweets.
Trent had a strong showing during the NBA’s restart in Orlando, averaging 16.9 PPG on .516/.507/.778 in eight seeding games (34.1 MPG) as the Blazers clinched a playoff spot. He had recorded 7.7 PPG on .426/.388/.833 shooting in 53 games (20.0 MPG) prior to the hiatus before emerging as one of the team’s top rotation players in the summer.
A former second-round pick, Trent is on a minimum-salary contract, but would be eligible to sign an extension that starts at 120% of the league’s estimated average salary. That would give Portland the flexibility to offer him up to $53.76MM over four years, though there’s no guarantee the team would go that high. He’d be eligible for a larger starting salary as a free agent.
Trent, who will turn 22 in January, recently signed with Klutch Sports — at the time, I noted that Klutch clients often opt for free agency over agreeing to early extensions. Choosing to go the free agency route is a signal that Trent is willing to bet on himself as he enters a contract year.
The Blazers would have the ability to match any offer sheet Trent signs as a restricted free agent next offseason.
Get that money Gary. Wishing you a good season…
I think it would be in Gary Trent Jrs best interest to resign now over hitting FA after the season.
Trent Jr could hurt his value, he just played really really well in the bubble and at 22 his value is sky high. With McCollum starting, Rodney Hood back from injury, Simons, Jones Jr and Little all on that roster he might not get the opportunities or minutes he just had which would hurt his value.
He actually started playing really well around game 30 during the season. Looking at his game logs, in game 31 he got in 36 minutes and score 20 points and from that point on really started to take off. From that point though the end of the bubble he averaged 13.5 PPG and shot 43% from 3pt range. I’m not really sure he’s going to wind up making much more than the 4/$54M he could be offered now… but I definitely think he could put himself in a position to actually get a contract around that much if he continues to play like he did in the second half of the year. Also somewhat unrelated but I looked at his G-Leage stats from 2018-2019 and the dude averaged 33.3 PPG while shooting 50% from 3 (granted in only 6 games) but still WOW. This kid could emerge as something special so I don’t blame him at all for wanting another season to prove himself before settling for a new contract. If he continues to shoot lights out from 3 like he has been he could wind up being a starter very quickly and then he’ll be in line for a massive raise/payday.
Agree I’ve liked him ever since college he’s always been an amazing shooter. But again last season McCollum and Lillard both sat at periods and that was without Hood who was already injured, Little was a raw rookie and Jones Jr wasn’t on the team.
Now the Blazers are going for a ring and he has a lot more competition, which means less minutes, less shots per game, and less opportunities if he fails.
I do think he’s a great shooter and his minutes he will be effective but if I was him I wouldn’t be turning down anything over 10mil.
Even if he doesn’t get the offer sheet he likes from the Blazers at the end of the season, the only real places he starts would be terrible teams, I think for him being a second round pick and to make it this far and turn down 10 mil plus would be a huge call and if he’s rather look to start or look for money else where it’ll come at some expense.
Good for GTJ!
Players need to believe more in themselves & make their own teams pay them more, power to the players.
If it doesn’t work at the end of the season, yes he will lose millions, but, still will make millions, so is not a life & death gamble, right?
If Trent keeps shooting like that the Blazers won’t be able to match… they just got Covington also… Trent’s improvement has been great. He could always hit the wing 3. jump shot taught him that. ha ha what?
Cute. But google his dad’s ‘95 draft day interview and realize your sarcasm was actually a thing.
link… my google game needs help
Ahhhh, his dad was such a BANGER.
Such a downer the ’95 Ohio team got no trny invite. I lost a lot of college-ball fan-fuel when that happened. I mostly watch it now for the pro prospects. -if any-
What is it with Blazers overpaying wings who play for them? Allen Crap, Evan Turner, Harkless – only to salary dump them later?