Stein/Fischer: Toronto willing to deal RJ Barrett, IQ, Poeltl for Significant Upgrades // #9 Available

[WWSRD]

Masai wants to appear to be doing his job/re-invigorate interest in Team. Siakim and OG being deep in playoffs, especially Siakim, is a really bad look for Masai.

Also, this gets him in position to participate as a third team and get some assets.

There's little chance the Raps are going to pay more for 1year of Durant (who will in no scenario extend here. Will just walk at end of year) vs. Houston getting him for 3 years guaranteed.

Like he's old but he's still good 25-27pts/night on ultimate efficiency and solves a huge issue for them.

This whole thing is extracting maximum assets from Houston IMO.

San Antonio, I'm sure would be great for Durant, and they probably would like Durant, but are you trading the #2 or ROY. No.

Houston can easily afford to make this deal without getting rid of anyone really that valuable to them. Like Phoenix badly needs a PG and Reed Sheppard doesn't even play.

[WuTang_CMB]

yup
HOU and SAS are not putting their chips in for KD ... as they shoudlnt

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[RapsFanInOhio]

If Houston and San Antonio aren’t biting, why would we?

[WWSRD]

yeahhhhhhh...........the hoarding for Giannis thing isn't something I really considered.

I think Durant tanked his value last year by being a little b!tch again.

You're super good and we need exactly what you do but you're going to kill the vibes and possibly get hurt.

[CoinTossRoss31]

If Houston and San Antonio aren’t biting, why would we?

If the price is cheap enough that is why.

For example getting Ingram for 1 first. We are looking for positive value deals

[CazOnReal]

If Houston and San Antonio aren’t biting, why would we?

There's one minor thing people aren't talking about in trading for KD: Cap space.

Because Ochai's got a small cap hold and because KD is expiring, that would free up a good amount of money in 2026 for us to use if he does walk and we trade RJ/Poeltl as both are technically under contract until 2027 (Jakob is a player option). Hell, you could probably re-sign Jakob that offseason if you were feeling spicy and he was a free agent.

I still wouldn't do it just for that but if it's just RJ/JP/2026 protected 1st then there are worse players to get for that package. You still need a new center, granted, and having Queen/Sorber/Malauch start for you is a major risk if you're seriously contending.

[Potential]

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[Clutch0z24]

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The big fish being Monk would be hilarious....Sabonis would have to be involved as well for it to make sense....I like Malik but cmon...

[tdotrep2]

We have rj, gradey and jakobe. Why would we be after Malik?

[CazOnReal]

"Interest dating back to the deadline" which...I don't remember hearing sh*t about Malik Monk for us back then?

[Gavin_TDThree]

I mean... IQ + RJ works in trade machine for Sabonis + Monk

Kings said they wanted a PG?

[TheRaptor!]

phx board

I just don't know if I buy them really wanting him unless they just want to flip him at the deadline. It seems to be all rumors. II don't know that those guys have a lot of direct sources for that stuff anyway. I know they are reputable and have been around a long time, but only someone like Shams really has the connections I would trust and I think if Toronto was really in the mix, he'd say aomething. If he reports it I will buy it. Honestly it wouldn't surprise me if Sidery mentions it and some of those guys like Stein, Fischer or whoever, mention "they've heard the Raptors could be in the mix"....after all Stein only has a subscriber only substack now and wants people to pay to read him.

It makes absolutely zero sense. The only rationale I can come up with that is a stretch is that they want Barnes to play in more meaningful games, don't like this draft at all, are low on Barrett and just want to dump his contract, and they feel they could flip KD for someone at the deadline when teams may want him more.

So get off Barrett, Poeltl money, use a draft pick you don't like, then flip KD for something you do like at the deadline. That makes some sense for a savvy manager.

But it's a crap deal anyway.

I definitely see why they would love to get off $27 million for Barrett a year and $20 million for Poeltl...it's like they are able to dump assets for a better asset they can deal when teams are more desperate at the deadline. Say they like Jalen Green a lot more than Barrett...and would hope to get another 1st back anyway, or they like what they hear MIami is offering so they could unload big salary they don't like and move KD for players they do like and a pick.

That is the only rationale I can think of if I'm the Raptors, which really isn't a bad rationale.

Yup.
I see Raptors potentially trading with Spurs, Rockets before deadline to get younger pieces and draft picks if KD doesn't work out for them. They know KD will sign extensions with those teams.

So Raptors being savvy and cunning clearing space trying out KD and then getting players they want before deadline if KD doesn't work out... they get their cake and eat it too situation.


Suns need not budge. Keep KD if offers are bad or extend him and he becomes more appealing trade piece.

Makes sense, chess no checkers, we prob wont want to pay RJ and expect Poetl to be too expensive

more importantly, we cant pay all of Ingram KD and Giannis...

We still got Scottie, IQ, Dick, and all the picks left for Giannis after getting KD, and itll sure be a lot more appealing for Giannis to leave the Bucks at that point

[RapsFanInOhio]

If Houston and San Antonio aren’t biting, why would we?

If the price is cheap enough that is why.

For example getting Ingram for 1 first. We are looking for positive value deals

The price has a floor: two of RJ, Poeltl, and IQ. That’s the lowest deal we’re getting because of KD’s salary. I’m not sure that KD is more valuable than any two of those guys right now.

Anything beyond that is an overpay to me. KD doesn’t guarantee a championship. Kawhi didn’t either, but at least he wasn’t 37 years old even if there was risk involved there. We also had a roster that had been playoff tested and just needed a superstar. It is not the same situation.

[Troubadour]

The Raptors are clearly scrambling. Bet they bled money last season and this roster is about to be even more expensive.

[ForeverTFC]

If Houston and San Antonio aren’t biting, why would we?

If it's cheap, why not.

[CazOnReal]

We have rj, gradey and jakobe. Why would we be after Malik?

Only thing I can think of is us trading for back in the draft for 13 + 22, packaging 22 and salary with RJ for Keon Ellis & Malik Monk.

[WuTang_CMB]

He's on a good contract

[CazOnReal]

I mean... IQ + RJ works in trade machine for Sabonis + Monk

Kings said they wanted a PG?

That would be the dumbest outcome possible for this "big fish" nonsense. Like Sabonis is not a winning player and a horrible fit next to Scottie Barnes.

Also what's the plan for Poeltl? At least with Myles Turner you had a floor spacing 5.

[ForeverTFC]

The Raptors are clearly scrambling. Bet they bled money last season and this roster is about to be even more expensive.

I doubt they bled money, Raptors are usually at the higher end of the league in terms of profitability and were top ~10 in ticket prices, top ~10 in attendance last year. BUT, they are being sold next year, and assets that get sold often get dressed up before they do.

I'm a broken record on this, but I find it hard to believe that the impending sale is not influencing our direction. It's only logical that it would.

[CazOnReal]

Do we think Keegan Murray's trade value is low enough to be in this deal?