Rival executives are keeping a close eye this season on the Raptors, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe (Insider link), who says those execs are “bracing for fireworks” if Toronto is still right around .500 as February’s trade deadline approaches. The club is currently 13-12.
As Lowe lays out, rival teams are uncertain about whether the Raptors intend to stick with forwards Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Scottie Barnes long-term or if they’d eventually be open to moving one of them. There’s also a question about whether Fred VanVleet, who can become an unrestricted free agent in 2023, fits the vision of a team that is primarily made up of longer, more versatile athletes.
Raptors president Masai Ujiri has shown a willingness to shake things up in the past rather than settling for being a middle-of-the-road playoff contender, most memorably trading for Kawhi Leonard in 2018. Rival executives are curious to see whether how long he’ll be content to wait out the current group if it doesn’t take a major step forward, per Lowe.
Here are a few more notes from around the Atlantic:
- Raptors fans frustrated by Scottie Barnes‘ up-and-down play this fall following his Rookie of the Year campaign last season should look to the evolution of Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for reassurance, says Eric Koreen of The Athletic. As Koreen observes, Tatum was less effective in his second season than his first, while Brown took a minor step backward in his third year, a reminder that a top prospect’s development isn’t always linear.
- Revamping the offense after its struggles in last season’s NBA Finals was a primary focus all offseason for Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, even before he was promoted to replace Ime Udoka, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Some tweaks from the coaching staff and some personnel changes have helped turn Boston’s offense into the NBA’s best. According to Bontemps, the Celtics’ 120.8 points per game would be the highest average by any team in nearly 30 years, while the team’s 62.6 true shooting percentage would be an NBA record.
- As expected, Nets swingman Ben Simmons is set to make his return from a calf strain on Friday following a four-game absence. He’s not listed on Brooklyn’s injury report for the game vs. Atlanta, notes Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link).
Never forget that Denver drafted Jamal Murray with a draft pick they got from NYK in the Carmelo Anthony trade… link to m.youtube.com
We won’t bro.
We won’t.
If we move off of any of Scotty, Pascal or OG the return would be massive. I’m not even sure what a deal would look like, but there has to be legs to this, we’ve been hearing it all year.
We have been hearing it since Barnes was drafted. The Raptors have been rumored to be blowing it up since Kawhi left. Yet it still hasn’t happened, until I hear rumblings from Raptors reporters this means nothing.
Notice how it’s rival executives are wondering as the basis for it all.
Hype to see Bennie vs Jalen Johnson tonight. My hope is too see JJ become a Ben Simmons type player. This stretch with John out is VERY important for him… very hopeful that Dre can come back & do #s vs KD tonight too
KD for Scottie Gary Trent Jr and fillers, let’s go.
BKN still hasn’t discovered the potential Durant-Irving-Simmons on the court so probably not.
SGA!!!!
FVV and OG Anunoby plus 2 first round picks
SGA Trent Jr Barnes Siakim Precious
Flynn (need a back up SG) Otto Porter Thad Young Boucher
Thunder probably won’t have a need for FVV but he’s easily worth another first if you ship him. Could even see a third team get involved that’ll take FVV.
If you want a three team something like this for example
Raptors: SGA
Thunder: OG Anunoby, Davis Bertans, Josh Green and 4 first round picks (2 from each)
Mavs: FVV
Would make a ton of sense for Toronto. SGA is playing terrifically, all NBA level right now. He’s from Canada so he’d probably love to return back to Toronto. He fits Nick Nurses mould of player being tall, athletic and can play defence. He’s not ball dominant which means Scottie and Pascal can continue to get a lot of touches, he’s comes up big in the clutch moments. Think he’d be an amazing fit for them. Giving up 2 firsts shouldn’t be an issue either with SGA and Scottie your two franchise corner stones for the next 5-10 seasons your going to be a playoff side every year.
OKC adds OG who I think is a really solid player. Plays both ends of the court really well, has gotten better every season, doesn’t require many touches to put up really good numbers. On paper would be a good fit with Giddey and Chet. Actually OKC could kind of mirror Torontos style a little with a bunch of 6’6-6’9 guys Giddey Dort OG JRE and Chet. Plus a bunch of good young back ups Mann Green Deing Williams Poku etc
They add to their huge stash of first round picks but continue to slowly add better and better players.
Then if you add a third team I’ve just used Dallas for an example, as they look for another ball handler. They are throwing away a terrible contract and 2 picks for an all star level guy. 1 pick for the player and 1 for the terrible contract. Lots of teams across the league could be substituted in for them and throw away a bad deal for an all star at the cost of some picks or players
Why would OKC do this? The point of all the picks is to find a star. Now it’s time to build around the star.
I think they’d be happy to keep adding picks and OG is still a really solid player