Raptors Go After Booker

[One_and_Done]

Not remotely competitive.

[daoneandonly]

Yea light for Booker. The most realistic destination would be Houston if he were moved. As others said, PHX can get their picks back and some young pieces

[Slim Charless]

Houston has the talent accumulated to overpay. And, might do it because Booker is perfect fit.
Sheppard, Whitmore, expiring filler and a lot of picks. Jalen could go but due to poison pill, can only go to Detroit (or for te).
If Houston could roll:
Vleet, Booker, Brooks, Jabari, Sengun with Amen and Eason off the bench . . . . Scary

Houston won't be overpaying.

Happy to let him go to another team and boost the value of the Phoenix picks,.

Wasn’t this type of trade scenario the whole reason why they traded Brooklyn back their picks?

It's exactly why they did it. Our picks back aren't enough though. I think I'd need at least 1 legit young player-not just prospects.

Something like Sheppard, Whitmore, plus Amen or if not Amen then a package of Eason+Jabari. In addition to our picks back.

[Mr Swagtastic]

I can't see The Suns doing this without owning their picks going forward and IMHO Durant isn't going to be happy with this. I mean swapping Booker for RJ and picks isn't going to make him happy, Toronto probably needs to add more here and I don't see what bridges that gap.

I get people are hyped for this draft especially Raptors fans liking their odds for Flagg or Bailey or one of the other big fish but if I am Toronto and this is offered I think they jump on it first as their team is good enough to turn it around to at least be a 6-8th seed in The East this year and better next year

[Tripod]

Raps are not jumping the gun and doing this type of move. Stay the course this year, see if you hit the home run at the draft.

2026 let those pics fall as they may pishing for the playoffs and build up better young depth

[wegotthabeet]

Houston won't be overpaying.

Happy to let him go to another team and boost the value of the Phoenix picks,.

Wasn’t this type of trade scenario the whole reason why they traded Brooklyn back their picks?

It's exactly why they did it. Our picks back aren't enough though. I think I'd need at least 1 legit young player-not just prospects.

Something like Sheppard, Whitmore, plus Amen or if not Amen then a package of Eason+Jabari. In addition to our picks back.

I think if there's a Booker to Houston deal then it's probably build around Jalen Green once he's trade eligible in the offseason. Doesn't make sense to carry both at the 2 spot in my opinion.

Something like:
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jabari Smith Jr.
2025 Suns 1st
2027 Suns 1st
2029 Suns 1st

That's 3 players drafted top 3 + 3 picks returned. Can't see more than that.

[Ell Curry]

Raps are not jumping the gun and doing this type of move. Stay the course this year, see if you hit the home run at the draft.

2026 let those pics fall as they may pishing for the playoffs and build up better young depth

Yeah, I'm an RJ hater, but there's really no reason not to hang on to him until he's an expiring contract. Summer of 2026 or deadline of 2026-27, we should be able to target a wing for something like an expiring RJ + 1 of Dick/Walter + whoever we sign for the MLE this summer (or Poeltl if it's for a center like Bam) + army of firsts and that's like 50+M or so. No reason to make the 2026 pick worse or rush anything.

I could see RJ getting traded next year once some teams have some new 15-20M contracts to move for him from using the MLE or re-signing guys and the Raptors get 30 games into the year and the tank is on and newly signed guys can be traded.

This year, it's hard to find a deal.

IF Middleton got seriously hurt again before the deadline, I could see Middleton + 2031 Bucks for RJ + Portland's 2nd in 2025 making sense for everyone. Milwaukee under the 2nd apron, gets a playable forward and moves up 6 years in the draft and can try to pick an upperclassman who can help them next year, maybe a stretchy big like Broome since Lopez is old and he and Portis are free agents and maybe one leaves.

Then as a separate transaction they can do Connaughton for Davion Mitchell if they wanna save more money next year. Raptors commit to a tank next year, but they get a first and maybe Middleton can get healthy and be traded at next year's deadline. If not, they get 2026 cap space.

[Mr Swagtastic]

Wasn’t this type of trade scenario the whole reason why they traded Brooklyn back their picks?

It's exactly why they did it. Our picks back aren't enough though. I think I'd need at least 1 legit young player-not just prospects.

Something like Sheppard, Whitmore, plus Amen or if not Amen then a package of Eason+Jabari. In addition to our picks back.

I think if there's a Booker to Houston deal then it's probably build around Jalen Green once he's trade eligible in the offseason. Doesn't make sense to carry both at the 2 spot in my opinion.

Something like:
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jabari Smith Jr.
2025 Suns 1st
2027 Suns 1st
2029 Suns 1st

That's 3 players drafted top 3 + 3 picks returned. Can't see more than that.

Can't see a bunch of offers beating this. Suns get to control their destiny get Reed Sheppard who looks like a good guard going forward and both Smith and Green are young enough to fit into your rebuild/retool.

Durant has to be moved in the offseason if this went down. I mean I doubt he wants to waste the last few years playing mentor to Jabari trying to win in a top heavy western conference. In a ideal basketball world it would be awesome to see him with Wemby and coached by Pop but if he does go on the market OKC should bring him back for a final run they have a war chest of picks and a good mix of players they could move plus playing with SGA would be lethal.

[Slim Charless]

It's exactly why they did it. Our picks back aren't enough though. I think I'd need at least 1 legit young player-not just prospects.

Something like Sheppard, Whitmore, plus Amen or if not Amen then a package of Eason+Jabari. In addition to our picks back.

I think if there's a Booker to Houston deal then it's probably build around Jalen Green once he's trade eligible in the offseason. Doesn't make sense to carry both at the 2 spot in my opinion.

Something like:
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jabari Smith Jr.
2025 Suns 1st
2027 Suns 1st
2029 Suns 1st

That's 3 players drafted top 3 + 3 picks returned. Can't see more than that.

Can't see a bunch of offers beating this. Suns get to control their destiny get Reed Sheppard who looks like a good guard going forward and both Smith and Green are young enough to fit into your rebuild/retool.

Durant has to be moved in the offseason if this went down. I mean I doubt he wants to waste the last few years playing mentor to Jabari trying to win in a top heavy western conference. In a ideal basketball world it would be awesome to see him with Wemby and coached by Pop but if he does go on the market OKC should bring him back for a final run they have a war chest of picks and a good mix of players they could move plus playing with SGA would be lethal.

I'd rather a return of Amen but I get it if the duplicity of Booker and Jalen make the Rockets insist on us taking him back.

As to Reed, he hasn't played much and when he has he wasn't very good. I don't count him as a major get and as such, I'd want Whitmore included in such a trade.

[LarsV8]

Amen isn't going anywhere.

[wegotthabeet]

I think if there's a Booker to Houston deal then it's probably build around Jalen Green once he's trade eligible in the offseason. Doesn't make sense to carry both at the 2 spot in my opinion.

Something like:
Jalen Green
Reed Sheppard
Jabari Smith Jr.
2025 Suns 1st
2027 Suns 1st
2029 Suns 1st

That's 3 players drafted top 3 + 3 picks returned. Can't see more than that.

Can't see a bunch of offers beating this. Suns get to control their destiny get Reed Sheppard who looks like a good guard going forward and both Smith and Green are young enough to fit into your rebuild/retool.

Durant has to be moved in the offseason if this went down. I mean I doubt he wants to waste the last few years playing mentor to Jabari trying to win in a top heavy western conference. In a ideal basketball world it would be awesome to see him with Wemby and coached by Pop but if he does go on the market OKC should bring him back for a final run they have a war chest of picks and a good mix of players they could move plus playing with SGA would be lethal.

I'd rather a return of Amen but I get it if the duplicity of Booker and Jalen make the Rockets insist on us taking him back.

As to Reed, he hasn't played much and when he has he wasn't very good. I don't count him as a major get and as such, I'd want Whitmore included in such a trade.

Doubt they would include Amen. Whitmore swapped in for Reed is way more realistic.