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Minutes after the trade deadline passed on a day that sent shock waves throughout the NBA, Gary Trent Jr. was already on the court shooting buckets.
The Raptors shooting guard was the subject of many trade rumours, but as the hours rolled by and nothing significant happened, he knew he could only focus on what he control.
That’s why the 24-year-old didn’t cancel the preplanned public event with KFC at an outdoor basketball court in downtown Toronto, despite a sense of uncertainty as the deadline approached.
“You know that you can be traded at any given time,” he said Thursday afternoon under The Bentway. “As a professional, you can’t let that bother you. Just have to go out there and play the game, believe in your craft and you’ll be fine.”
Despite several hours of intense speculation, the Raptors didn’t move any of their core players. Only backup centre Khem Birch was sent to San Antonio in a trade that reunited the Raptors with Jakob Poeltl, whom they picked ninth overall in the 2016 NBA draft.
At the “Buckets Are Life” event with KFC, Trent Jr. walked around calmly, laughing with kids and showing them tricks on how to shoot hoops. He posed for pictures with fans and signed autographs.
He said his focus is on the future and what he has to do to help the Raptors.
“I’m glad we got (the trade talk) in the past and we can now focus on winning,” he said. “Since I came into the league there have been trade rumours. It’s a business.”
Trent Jr. said he was excited about the addition of Poeltl, noting the big man will be needed especially on the defensive end, bringing toughness in rebounding and blocking shots.
The Raptors acquired Trent Jr. in a March 2021 trade that sent Norman Powell to Portland. He has been an integral part of the team since his arrival and is averaging nearly 19 points per game this season.
“Toronto is a great city. It’s different than anywhere I’ve ever lived, a melting pot of different races and different cultures,” he said about his love of the city and why it’s important for him to get involved in the community.
“The future looks bright. It looks exciting.”
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