Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat drives against Gary Trent Jr. #33 of the Toronto Raptors
The San Antonio Spurs may still be far from making a serious run for the NBA title, but everyone can tell they’re on the right track.
A big reason why they’re on the right path has everything to do with Victor Wembanyama. One of the best Rookie of the Year recipients in quite a while, Wembanyama has made his presence felt in his debut campaign, and you can expect his star to shine even more as the years go by.
Another factor behind the general hype is the big-time acquisitions the front office made to help Wembanyama operate better. Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes provide some much-needed experience, playmaking, and shooting that will improve Gregg Popovich’s side by leaps and bounds.
However, Popovich also knows that he needs another shooter to fully turn his squad into a playoff-worthy team. One sharpshooter has been linked with the team, but there’s another intriguing prospect they could go for.
Analysts believe the San Antonio Spurs can make a mid-level exception for Gary Trent Jr. Air Alamo’s Tyler Watts gave three names the Spurs could possibly target with a mid-level exception, a tool that teams can use to sign players without going beyond their salary cap. One of the names mentioned was Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr.
Watts gave a stellar review on why Trent Jr. should be considered by the Spurs front office:
“There are defensive and efficiency concerns, but the free agency pool is drying up. Trent Jr. can score, stretch the floor, and get buckets. He has the size and athletic ability to hold his own defensively. There is plenty to like, and Trent Jr. will provide excess value if he signs for the room exception.”
Gary Trent Jr. was a solid part of Toronto’s rotation last season, averaging 13.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals a game while shooting 42.6% from the floor and 39.3% from deep. He’ll provide the instant offense the Spurs badly missed last season if they go for his services.
With the continued development of Wembanyama and the potential addition of a proven scorer like Trent Jr., the Spurs are setting themselves up for a promising future. While they might not be title contenders just yet, the pieces are falling into place for a return to playoff relevance.
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