Raptors Insider: Trent bet on himself after Nurse was fired

Inside The Star

26 October 2023

Raptors Insider: Trent bet on himself after Nurse was fired

A one-on-one conversation with Gary Trent Jr. outside the Raptors locker room one morning this week is momentarily interrupted by the smiling presence of Darko Rajakovic.

“This is my guy,” he says, patting Trent on the chest. “Don’t write anything bad about my guy.”

It was just a quick moment and had little to do with the reason for chatting with Trent, but it did speak volumes about the budding relationship between the new coach and a young player who took a major leap of faith in the Raptors organization.

This is not meant to slag Nick Nurse in any way — his coaching style is his coaching style, and the championship ring and multi-generational wealth his success has provided prove that style works — but the change in motivational style could set Trent up for a good, more engaged season.

The communication, lighthearted or not, was not forthcoming in seasons gone by. Trent said on media day that he’d already spoken to Rajakovic more than he did to Nurse in 2 1/2 seasons, a bit of telling hyperbole.

There are those throughout the organization who will say without hesitation it wasn’t that Nurse was combative or confrontational. It was that he wasn’t likely to chat with any of his players to any major extent.

“Maybe lack of communication, not bad communication” was how one Raptors higher-up put it.

The impact on a player such as Trent could be significant, and is at least part of the reason he opted into the final year of his contract last June rather than seek a longer deal as a free agent.

Nurse was let go in April, Rajakovic was hired in mid-June and Trent opted in later that month knowing that a new voice, a new personality, would be in charge in a big year for his career.

“No matter where I am, no matter what I’m doing, I don’t run from the challenge. I don’t run from no challenge; I don’t do any of that,” he said.

“A whole bunch of things factor into it. Whether it’s the market, whether it’s what you’re doing, whether it’s what you’re seeing, what you feel. What situation you want to be in that’s best for you and your career long term.

“I like where we’re at.”

And he likes who he’s with, too.

It’s not that Trent needs to be coddled or told how valuable he is every day. What he needs — what every player needs — is direction and feedback.

It’s clear Trent didn’t get a lot of it last season. He’s certainly going to get more now.

As for a contract extension, none was forthcoming in the summer — there were never any serious discussions with the Raptors — and it’s highly unlikely there will be any talks throughout the season. NBA sources suggest there wasn’t a huge, high-value market for Trent had he decided to become a free agent last summer, so betting on himself and what Rajakovic could bring out of him seems prudent.

A good year nets him unimaginable wealth — how’s four years, $90-plus million (U.S.) as a starting point sound? — and even a so-so year should get him a pretty good deal somewhere.

And since he’s only 24 years old, he’s got all kinds of time left to get two, three or maybe four more contracts. He doesn’t have a ton of security right now, but what he has is a place where he wants to be and a coach who will be more to his liking.

“Opting in was the best chance for my career, my family,” he said.

So now he’ll come off the bench. It’s the only logical role for him on this roster, and one he’s fine with, a point he made emphatically in that quick game-day chat.

“It’s not a thing to me,” he said, bending down a bit to get closer to the microphone for emphasis. “It’s a whole bunch of players in this league that can play in a starting lineup, that can come off the bench.

“I am able to play with any unit.”

He is assured that I’d make that point, now and in the future.

“Please do,” he said.

Chris Boucher sits

The odd man out in the Raptors opening-night rotation was veteran big man Chris Boucher, who didn’t crack Rajakovic’s top 10.

Rookie Gradey Dick got a couple of first-half minutes — he looked comfortable for the first real game of his career — and Boucher was behind Precious Achiuwa and Jalen McDaniels for the night.

McDaniels is intriguing because he’s versatile and could be a three-and-D guy, and Achiuwa was really good at both ends of the court. Boucher? He’ll have to bide his time and stay ready, a point Rajakovic said he made in a one-on-one chat.

“I met with him, I talked with him and I told him what I expect to happen in the next days, the next weeks,” the coach said. “And how he needs to stay ready, and what I expect from him in order to be back in (the) rotation and help us.

“Chris is (a) very important player for us. There’s no doubt about that. This time, we decided to go with a couple of different players there. They’re still learning. I’m still learning. And you will be seeing Chris over the course of the year, for sure.”

Pat Bev channelling Paul Pierce

First it was Paul Pierce suggesting years ago that the Raptors lacked “it” before Toronto won an NBA title that equalled the number Pierce won in 19 years with four franchises.

Now it’s the pesky Patrick Beverley of the Philadelphia 76ers suggesting this week that the Raptors don’t have a “dog” on the roster while taking pretty blatant shots at O.G. Anunoby and Pascal Siakam, who both have more titles to their credit than Beverley.

Anyway, it’s really just an eye-rolling part of the game and to Dennis Schröder, a “consider the source” moment.

“I mean Pat Bev, man. Pat Bev is Pat Bev,” Schröder said. “I like him as a teammate. I was really surprised how he is. He’s a great guy, has your back.

“And when you don’t play with him, Pat Bev is going to be Pat Bev. So, end of the day, like I said, it motivates us if people underestimate us and we go from there.”

Well said.