Portland Trail Blazers: 2018 NBA Draft grades

No. 37: Gary Trent Jr., Duke (via Sacramento Kings)

After the Simons pick, it looked like the Blazers were done for the evening. Portland would come away with only a raw combo guard and none of the available wing players that could contribute right away. However, the front office was working behind the scenes to acquire another prospect they had their eye on.

The Sacramento Kings selected Gary Trent Jr. out of Duke University with the No. 37 pick. Almost immediately, the Blazers swooped in and acquired him for two future second-rounders (2019, 2021) and cash considerations.

The 19 year-old Trent is the son of former NBA player Gary Trent, who spent the first three years of his pro career in Portland. Junior comes to the Northwest after one season at Duke, starting all 37 of the Blue Devils’ games and averaging 14.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.

Trent is considered one of the best shooters in the draft, going 40.2 percent from beyond the arc on 6.5 attempts per game. He is capable of scoring from the perimeter in a variety of ways, which will make it difficult for defenses to contain him.

On the downside, Trent isn’t very athletic. It keeps him from being a crafty slasher and limits him as a defender. Nevertheless, his shooting is what makes him such a valuable asset to the Blazers.

Trent will likely come in and fill the Allen Crabbe role, one that had been vacant for an entire season. While it was good to shed Crabbe’s contract, none of the remaining wings were able to fill his sharpshooting role on a consistent basis. Like Trent, Crabbe also struggled defensively, so it will feel like he never left!

Acquiring Gary Trent Jr. was a savvy move by Olshey and the front office, especially since they didn’t have to give up anything substantial to get him. It also saved face for the gamble they took with their first round pick. While parts of Trent’s game definitely need refinement, his shooting should be an asset from day one.

Grade: A