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NBA Trade Rumors: 3 players Suns can trade for after missing Kyrie Irving

By Karan Jain

Nov 27, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) and guard Chris Paul (3) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) and guard Chris Paul (3) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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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
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 /

1. Gary Trent Jr. is the perfect complementary perimeter scorer

In his fifth season, Gary Trent Jr. is turning into one of the best complimentary players in the league, something a contender like the Suns is in need of. Trent Jr. is averaging 18.1 points per game on a 58.2 true shooting percentage and has hit 37.6 percent on 7.2 3-point attempts per game. Trent Jr.’s biggest asset is his shooting, especially off movement. The guard ranks in the 86th percentile in Basketball Index’s perimeter shooting metric. Trent’s ability to hit 40.5 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s will also bode well alongside playmakers such as Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and an emerging Mikal Bridges.

Defensively, Trent Jr has also shown some positive signs. The former Duke Guard has 1.8 steals and 3.2 deflections per 75 possessions ranking in the 96th and 87th percentile respectively.

Similar to Clarkson, Trent Jr. can become a free agent in the 2023 offseason if he rejects his player option and with the Raptors seemingly in purgatory, the 24-year-old could be had for the right price.

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