There has been a lot of rumours and trade speculation this NBA offseason. With superstar players like Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell on the trade market almost every General Manager in the league has made a phone call to the Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz, to see what it would take to acquire their talent.
One of the teams rumoured to be high on the list as a possible suitor is the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors have a lot of young assets they could offer the Nets or Jazz to pull off a trade.
Let’s break down each trade individually to see what it would take for Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors to acquire each player.
Kevin Durant
According to Bobby Marks on ESPN’s NBA Today a trade package from the Raptors to the Nets could look something like this:
Kevin Durant to the Toronto Raptors for the following;
O.G Anunoby
Gary Trent Jr.
Thad Young
Four First Round Picks
Donovan Mitchell
According to Shams Charania of the Athletics the Raptors have expressed interest in a trade for Donovan Mitchell.
According to Sporting News here’s what the Raptors could offer for the 3 time all star.
Donovan Mitchell to the Toronto Raptors for the following;
Gary Trent Jr. or O.G Anunoby
Precious Achiuwa
Khem Birch
3 First Round Picks
Special Notes
The Toronto Raptors have all their first round draft picks from 2023 – 2029 that they could include in trades. They also have six out of the next seven second round draft picks they could offer.
Since Gary Trent Jr. and OG Anunoby could be gone in a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, the Raptors could include Fred Van Vleet in a trade with the Utah Jazz instead of one of these two players.
Alternatively, they could include Fred Van Vleet in a trade to the Brooklyn Nets instead of of Gary Trent Jr. and offer the Utah Jazz Gary Trent Jr. in a trade package, as it is rumoured that the Utah Jazz have interest in Gary Trent Jr.
According to Vegas the Toronto Raptors have the 4th highest trade odds to land Donovan Mitchell this off season. The Utah Jazz remain the favourite in retaining him with a 54% chance followed by the New York Knicks with a 25% chance. Following these 2 teams are the Washington Wizards and the Toronto Raptors tied with the next best odds (12% chance).
Raptors Hypothetical Starting Lineup
If Masai Ujiri was able to pull off these blockbuster trades, here’s what the Raptors starting lineup could look like.
Kevin Durant
Pascal Siakam
Scotty Barnes
Donovan Mitchell
Malachi Flynn
Who’s left on the Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors would still be left with a lot of good young players they could continue to develop. They would still have the following players to come off the bench.
Chris Boucher
Svi Mykhailiuk
Delano Banton
Justin Champagnie
Otto Porter Jr.
Christian Koloko
D.J Wilson
Ron Harper Jr.
Jeff Dowtin
If the Raptors are not confident with Malachi Flynn being their main point guard, they could still trade him along with anyone of their bench players for a better guard. Although, it is worth mentioning that Malachi Flynn has made great progress this off season. Malachi Flynn made headlines this offseason with a 73 point impressive pro am display.
Conclusion
If the Toronto Raptors could pull off a trade for both Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell while still keeping Pascal Siakam and Scotty Barnes, they would be instant contenders for the NBA championship probably only behind the current champions, the Golden State Warriors.
They definitely have the pieces to pull off both trades and salary wise the trade machine approves both trade scenarios.
If there is any GM in the league that could get this trade done its the Toronto Raptors GM Masai Ujiri. Plus out of all the teams in the league the Raptors are on the top of the list in having young talent and draft picks they could offer up to make these trades a reality.
We will have to continue to wait and see what happens this off season but it is definitely worth the phone calls from Masai Ujiri to see what could be done.
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