The Raptors have received phone calls about their core players, multiple sources tell Josh Lewenberg of TSN. And while the front office has been listening to all the trade offers, no deals are close right now.
Rival teams are paying close attention to Toronto, which had lost six straight games before winning in New York tonight. Lewenberg considers everyone except Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes to be available, although it would take a significant offer to land some of the other players. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are both All-Stars who are still in their prime, Lewenberg points out, while OG Anunoby is even younger and has become an accomplished two-way player.
Even if the Raptors decide to become sellers, Lewenberg doesn’t expect them to bottom out completely. He notes that the organization has worked hard to build a winning culture and isn’t likely to jeopardize that for a small chance to get one of the top picks in the lottery.
There’s more on the Raptors:
- Siakam, who scored 52 points tonight against the Knicks, may be the only thing preventing Toronto from being a definite lottery team, writes Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Koreen considers a Siakam deal to be a sign that the Raptors are “blowing it up,” while a trade of VanVleet or Anunoby wouldn’t be on that level. Siakam understands that the best way to quiet the trade talk is to start winning. “At the end of the day, I don’t care about the schemes or this or that,” he said after Monday’s game. “We’ve just got to win. That’s the only thing. I don’t know the difference compared to (past) groups. I just know this group right now, we’re struggling. It’s really bad. We have to get out of it.”
- Team president Masai Ujiri has built a reputation for patience since he took over the Raptors, but that might be tested heading into this season’s trade deadline, suggests Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. Grange points out that Ujiri had a two-year plan — last season and this one — to evaluate the players and decide who to build around.
- Tanking should be on the table, argues Dave Feschuk of The Toronto Star, because the Raptors don’t have enough talent on their roster to rise above the middle in the East. The primary need, according to Feschuk, is to find someone who can penetrate into the paint and either score or create an open shot for a teammate.
Trade Fred, Gary, and any vets. Keep Siakam, OG, and Scottie.
Masai Ujiri should trade OG Anunoby and get the max value out of him. It will be addition by subtraction and help them balance out the starters and get back to playing Toronto Raptors basketball. My Starters will be
SF Scottie Barnes
PF Pascal Siakam
C Christian Koloko
SG Gary Trent Jr.
PG Fred VanVleet
Then off the bench I’m playing
Thaddeus Young Chris Boucher and Malachi Flynn.
So, balance out the starters by trading a guy who can play 2-4 and guard 1-4, while also not getting any players that you would put in your starting lineup or bench?! Didn’t OG play Toronto Raptors basketball during their 2019 Championship season?
If you’re moving either Pascal or OG, it’s either in a Blockbuster, or it’s to start a rebuild.
OG only played in the regular season that year.
But yeah that idea above is bonkers.
I think the proposer of the idea just didn’t want to make a trade scenario up. I have no problem with that.
Spurs get: OG Anunoby
Raptors get: Jakob Poeltl, Josh Richardson, 2nd round pick
Raptors get two contributors, Spurs get a player they can build around. Thoughts?
An expiring contract (Poeltl) and a 2nd for OG is ridiculously lowball for Toronto.
This is actually the worst trade proposal I have ever seen on this website. I don’t even think AI 2k GMs would accept this. Holy
TOR at some point will likely have to pick between Siakam or Barnes, and they should put themselves on the clock with that. The team’s timeline to contend, and the right pieces to keep or trade, would more clearly follow from that. OG is actually the most flexible piece, and on talent alone is a keeper, but there are other factors, including his injury history and contract situation.
Tanking hurts the tankers in the end and should never be on the table.
The fact that scouts believe players should be moved to teams that look like they are contenders to play in the conference finals is proof that they have conference championship caliber players on their team.
The Raptors only need stay the course they are on. They are doing just fine.
Siakam tore up Randle for those 52. Randle looked lost out there. I think he was embarrassed getting took in front of home crowd. Even though he put up 30. Played no D and continues to be a drama queen. Seems Knicks get flustered at home. We need someone who got big ones. To take over. This home record is ridiculous.
Please go after SGA..
Bring the boy back home.
He’s playing amazing basketball right now, can do it all, gives you 30 points, a hand full of assists and some rebounds. Hits the clutch shots, plays defence, happy at either guard spot and willing to share the ball. He’s the exact guy you want paired with Scottie Barnes.
Possibly need a third team
OKC: OG, Rui Hachimura, Johnny Davis and 4 firsts (3 Toronto 1 Washington)
Raptors: SGA and Delon Wright
Washington: FVV and Darius Bazley
Raptors line up
SGA Trent Jr Barnes Siakim Precious
Wright Flynn Otto Thad Boucher
Banton Champagnie Koloko
OKC gets back a haul. 4 firsts, OG Rui and Davis.
Great opportunity for Rui to show what he can do before FA. Great opportunity for Davis.
OKC stop winning so many games and likely get a top 3-5 pick again.
Washington also need to do the Kuzma and Morris for Barnes and Mitchell move. Then they line up
FVV Beal Avidja Barnes KP
Mitchell Barton Kispert Bazley Gafford
They then go from missing the play in to making it and progressing into the playoffs. FVV is the perfect side kick next to Bradley Beal. Barnes and Mitchell provide some much needed defence and Barton off the bench so where he is best and that unit looks fun with Kispert and Bazley aswell.