Feb 1, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) takes a look at the scoreboard against the Utah Jazz in the fourth quarter at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
This season’s NBA free-agent class is loaded with talent, especially at the shooting guard position. Here are the five best available.
While there is only one All-NBA shooting guard available in this free-agent class, there are plenty of options for teams trying to upgrade. The options range from great backups to superstars but they could all be seriously costly.
Best available NBA free agent shooting guards: 5. Gary Trent Jr.
Gary Trent Jr. has a player option for this off-season. He will most likely decline (he may not decline as part of a sign-and-trade) and go into free agency. Trent Jr is a very solid starter in this league who provides a ton of spacing for any team. He isn’t really able to create offense for himself, but he is still a useful offensive player.
It would not be surprising if the Raptors tried to arrange a sign-and-trade, moving on from Trent but getting something in return. Toronto at least signaled at the deadline they believed in this roster by trading for Jakob Poeltl, but moving Trent Jr. is a way to make changes without altering the core.
Additionally, Toronto has done sign and trade deals in the past. They shopped Kyle Lowry at the deadline, couldn’t find an offer they liked and waited till the summer to get a deal done, eventually sending him to Miami in a sign-and-trade.
