The latest Raptors trade deadline rumours
Amit Mann discusses the latest rumors surrounding the Toronto Raptors ahead of Thursday’s close.
video transcript
AMIT MAN: The trading deadline is tomorrow, so let’s take a look at all the rumors floating around about the Toronto Raptors and some of their top players. Like and subscribe to YouTube and let’s get started.
So let’s start with OG Anunoby. According to Jake Fischer, the price tag for OG Anunoby is pretty steep, meaning the Toronto Raptors are looking for several first-round picks, hopefully without protection or at least limited protection, along with a couple of promising youngsters. Rumored teams of interest – you’ve got the Knicks, you’ve got the Suns, Pelicans, Grizzlies and of course the Indiana Pacers.
Well, on the OG Anunoby side, there have been rumors for a very long time that he is unhappy or is looking for another role with the Toronto Raptors or with another team. And that, at least from what we know now, has been confirmed by Sam Amick, who says that whether with Toronto or with another team, OG are looking for a bigger, expanded offensive role.
Well you can argue that maybe that’s not the best case for him, that’s not what a team needs to be a successful basketball team, OG as option number two or number three. But in a way, that doesn’t matter right now. The fact of the matter is that OG Anunoby, one of the top 3 and D players, an all-defense contender, likely a Defensive Player of the Year contender, is looking for more replays on offense.
And the Raptors must be wondering, are they ready for this? As it currently stands, the Raptors don’t have much room for him to be an on-ball creator. You have Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent, Jr., Fred VanVleet. OG wants more touches.
And now the Raptors must decide if they want to make good on that promise and just rely on him — more reps this season, an off-season of development, and well into next season too. Because again he is under contract until the end of next season where he has a player option where he will drop out. And obviously he wants to maximize his value in the market.
So the Raptors have to ask themselves, do we want to make that concession to OG Anunoby and give him those reps to make sure he stays and he’s happy with Toronto? That is the question.
Okay, let’s go to Gary Trent, Jr. He’s been connected to a few different teams as we head into the trade deadline. And it makes sense — he can help bolster any offense looking to get that little boost into the playoffs.
And we remember all the Jakob Poeltl vs Gary Trent Jr. rumors going back to last season. And according to Marc Stein, new rumors appear to be circulating around these two players and the Raptors and the Spurs are doing some sort of swap.
And to me, if you hear something like that, if you invite Jakob Poeltl, it would indicate that the Raptors are trying to retool rather than rebuild. But also keeping Gary Trent Jr. alongside Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes makes a lot of sense. He’s a sniper. He’s an on-ball creator.
He evolves into a three-tier top scorer. And the price is around $25 million per season. That’s actually not too bad for someone who’s still in his prime.
Signing Pascal Siakam – and since the Brooklyn Nets traded Kyrie Irving, they’ve been looking for another star to play alongside Kevin Durant, who they want to keep. And paste Pascal Siakam. That’s the name you’re looking for right now.
You can see he’s a very good match alongside Kevin Durant in Brooklyn. And again, as the Raptors are used to, the price for Pascal Siakam is apparently very high because they like him.
And every deal that’s struck between the Brooklyn Nets and the Toronto Raptors seems to revolve around Nic Claxton. So says Ian Begley of SNY. The Raptors have been associated with him for a number of seasons. They like its length. You like its verticality.
They like his mobility, like Jakob Pöltl. So that’s what it’s about. Do the Raptors want to trade Pascal Siakam? When they do that, we’re talking about a rebuild.
Also linked to the Brooklyn Nets is Fred VanVleet, who Jake Fischer says is the likeliest candidate of any starter on the Raptors’ starting lineup to be moved at the close. Interesting teams – you have the Suns, you have the Clippers, you have the Lakers and of course the Brooklyn Nets as I mentioned.
Fred will terminate his contract. He is reportedly aiming to make $30-$35 million per season. And his next contract, it’ll probably be his last big payday he gets. And he has every right to look for the largest possible amount of money.
And when it comes to where Fred VanVleet and the Toronto Raptors are, is it — does he fit the culture? Absolutely. He’s the epitome of what the Raptors stand for. Think about his journey, where he started, where he is now, he absolutely fits.
But you might not be able to argue that in court. Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby are all looking for their touches and rightly so. So do you want Fred to be that off-ball guy for an entire season?
They tried to make it happen this year. It didn’t really pay off. Fred fought a little defensively. He struggled with his shot despite turning it a bit.
One could argue that everything that happened earlier in the season might have been attributed to some injuries. But now, in his last 11 games, he’s back at his all-star level — 26 points, 45% from the field, 40% from 3, five rebounds, seven assists and nearly three shares.
However, with so many Toronto players looking for more opportunities on the ball, does it make sense to bring Fred back? I mean great, he’s a great leader. And that leadership quality comes with a certain dollar amount.
But is it $30-$35 million per season? I mean maybe not. Maybe you’re looking for a point guard with a little more traditional skills, a playmaker, some shooting. And you can just call it right there.
In the end, the Raptors have to decide which players they want to roll with now. That decision came eventually, but it escalated as the season progressed. If the players aren’t happy, that’s okay. Either you make them happy or you go on good terms and you find a solution that makes sense for them and also makes sense for your franchise in terms of what’s coming back.
According to Mike Singer, the Raptors have shown interest in Bones Hyland, who is also looking for a change of scenery. And he’s a great player, but he’s also looking for more touches. And does it make sense to bring him to Toronto when so many players are already looking for the same opportunity? Probably not.
If that should happen now, we’re talking about a rebuild around Scottie Barnes. And the Raptors could go that route. Or is it a conversion? Bring some 3-point shooting, some depth of protection, some rim protection?
They’re making some changes along the lines with some of the starters here. Maybe trade one of them, two of them, whatever. You’re gearing up and trying to make the playoffs this season, and you’re going along with a new core of players.
That’s the decision the Raptors make. Masai Ujiri, Bobby Webster, they will do this in the next 24 hours. And we’ll see what happens.