The Toronto Raptors have agreed to a three-year, $18 million deal with sixth-man power forward Patrick Patterson, according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman. This will keep the Raptors' top bench player in the fold through the 2016-17 season.
Raptors agree to 3-year, $18 million deal with Patrick Patterson
One of the top shooting forwards on the market is staying in Toronto.
Elsa
In a relatively thin market for sharpshooting forwards, Patterson was likely a popular name among teams. Coming off a resurgent second half with the Raptors in 2013-14, it appears he’s hoping to sustain that momentum by sticking with his current team.
A first-round pick in the 2010 draft out of Kentucky, Patterson spent his first two years with the Houston Rockets before being sent to the Sacramento Kings in a midseason deal. He didn't last long there before being packaged to Toronto in the Rudy Gay trade in Dec. 2013, where he settled into a role coming off the bench.
Patterson was solid for the Raptors, averaging 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds over 23.3 minutes per contest. Coming off the bench behind Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas, he found his shooting stroke and provided the team with a strong floor-spacing forward.
With Toronto, Patterson shot 48 percent overall and 41 percent from three-point range last season. That’s likely why the Raptors signed him, but it’s worth noting that his overall (41 percent) and three-point (23 percent) shooting numbers were way down before the trade.
Given the resurgence Patterson experienced in Toronto, it’s not surprising he wants to keep the partnership up. And while $6 million annually may seem like a lot for a reserve forward, the market this offseason is increasingly looking like an expensive one.
See More:
