Toronto Raptors: NBA trade deadline winners and losers

Loser: Gary Trent Jr. (present)

This is not to say that the Raptors are losers for acquiring Gary Trent Jr. In fact, he may be the best acquisition they made at the deadline. Trent could be a real part of the franchise’s long-term future.

In the present, however, Trent has downgraded from a team that is going to make the playoffs and perhaps advance in the playoffs to one that will likely do neither. For any player, that’s likely to feel like a bit of a bummer.

Trent was developing into a bonafide star in Portland. He was averaging a career-high 15.0 points per game, shooting 39.7 percent from 3-point range and hitting an average of three 3-pointers per game for the first time in his career.

His best skill is his ability to secure the basketball. So far this season, Trent sports a 4.8 turnover percentage, which is the best for qualifying players in the entire league. The Raptors are one of the better teams at avoiding turnovers (12.7 per game), so adding Trent is improving upon a strength in that department.

With an increase in minutes, Trent has seen an uptick five games into his Raptors tenure. He’s up to 16.8 points per game and his hitting a putrid 43.2 percent of his threes. His turnover percentage is even better than before, too, at 1.3 percent.

The early returns are looking good. Trent just turned 22 years old and has plenty of promising development ahead of him. Ultimately, it should be a win-win for both player and team if he develops into a high-caliber starter.