Another week, another opportunity for Klutch Sports Group to expand its NBA clientele. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted on Monday that Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Trent Jr. has signed with Klutch Sports for representation. Rich Paul and Lucas Newton will be the lead agents for Trent Jr.
Trent Jr. played sparingly during his rookie season in 2018-19, seeing action in 15 games while averaging a measly seven minutes per game. However, Trent Jr. elevated his play this past season, averaging 8.9 points per game on 48.6% shooting from the field in 61 games. In the final eight regular season games, which took place in the NBA bubble, the Apple Valley, Minnesota, native was a key fixture for the Blazers. He averaged roughly 34 minutes and 16.9 points per game on 51.6% shooting from the field, including 50.7% from deep. However, Trent Jr. cooled off significantly during the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers. The former Duke Blue Devil only shot 28.6% on two-point field goals and saw his points-per-game average dip to 9.6 points, though he shot 41.7% on three-point field goals.
Trent Jr., a 2018 second-round selection, will make $1.66 million for the 2020-21 season, according to Spotrac, and will become a restricted free agent next offseason. As ESPN’s Bobby Marks pointed out on Twitter, Trent Jr. “is extension eligible in the offseason with Portland allowed to add an extra four years (a projected $51M) to his contract.”
Klutch Sports also signed Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Lecque over the weekend. Klutch announced the move on Saturday via Twitter. Lecque was represented by NEXT Sports’ Austin Walton, according to USA Today. The Suns signed Lecque to a four-year deal in 2019 after he went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft. The first two years are guaranteed for a total of roughly $2.4 million ($898,310 in 2019 and $1.52 million in 2020), while his $1.78 million in 2021 is non-guaranteed. There is also a team option for $1.93 million in 2022.
Lecque, who bypassed the college ranks, only appeared in five games for the Suns during the 2019-20 season, but in 33 games (23 starts) for the team’s G-League affiliate, he averaged 13.3 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. Lecque’s athleticism is, without a doubt, his calling card, leaping a combine-best 43 inches at the 2019 NBA Combine.
Last month, Klutch Sports signed New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball and Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby.