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

[Zeno]

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

Actually, I do. Not sure when but I recall hearing Raptors interest in Monk multiple times.

[WuTang_CMB]

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.

Partially

but we have stunk for 3 years and the east is wide open to knock on the door for a top 5 seed
masai isn't wasting another season when u have scottie and just traded for BI
it's time to win .. no more baby development time

The RJ trade stuff SHOULD BE HAPPENING this off-season (no matter change of ownership or not). He's got 2 years left and they clearly want to move off him.

[sidsid]

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.

The Rockets would still have the asset base to make a move, but they'd have to pick up Fred's option before knowing if Giannis is even available to have the necessary salary matching flexibility. Then they have tax concerns, etc. But getting Giannis makes even more sense with KD depending on what's left on the roster after.

Same for us. Scottie and whatever's left of Dick/Ochai is going in the deal with future picks. Then you slot in Giannis next to KD. Better chance KD re-signs, too.

But yeah, the Spurs, man. They know what the prize is and you can mint a new favourite if you wait for the right piece.

[niQ]

Read on Twitter

From Giannis to KD to Ja to Monk.

Big fish.

[bballsparkin]

I still think, and it is not because I want it, that we will trade Yak and RJ, no picks for Sabonis who makes 5 million less than them combined.

Curious, why does Sacramento do this? Please don't tell me they plan to play RJ, DD and LaVine together.

[niQ]

I still think, and it is not because I want it, that we will trade Yak and RJ, no picks for Sabonis who makes 5 million less than them combined.

Curious, why does Sacramento do this? Please don't tell me they plan to play RJ, DD and LaVine together.

Meh, it's the Kings. I'm surprised Vucevic is not already on the team.

[Troubadour]

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.

They had their worst non-COVID attendance since 2013-2014. My brother also works at the arena and BMO Field and said 1) they've cut back on staffing and 2) they're not moving merchandise in the same way. MLSE also laid off 10% of their back office staff. I think your theory is right, but maybe I'm just rooting for them to be losing money because of how mismanaged this has become by Rogers/Bell.

To be honest, I think the Rogers era of this franchise will have us wishing for the days of OTPP.

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

This has opened the door for teams not on Durant’s preferred list, such as the Toronto Raptors, to make a push for the star.

“Do we see a Minnesota or Toronto or the Clippers or some mystery team say, you know what, we are willing to gamble and trade for (him) whether we have a commitment beyond next season or not, and they would do so in the belief that if you can just get him in the building, you can win him over, and of course the Raptors somewhat invented that script with Kawhi Leonard,” said Stein.

On the other hand, for a team like Toronto, it’s fair to question whether the former MVP still has enough left to justify such a significant gamble.

“It’s a fair point — the names that we’re hearing in terms of what is presumed to be Toronto’s willingness to part with in a significant trade, you know, RJ Barrett, [Immanuel] Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, the No. 9 pick — these are still trade assets that are not easy to part with,” Stein said.

Despite the potential cost, Stein said he believes acquiring Durant could be worthwhile, given the current state of the Eastern Conference.

“If you’re in the East, Kevin Durant certainly can move the needle because basically everyone in the East sees opportunity right now; we just saw this with the Orlando Magic,” Stein explained, referencing the Magic's move to acquire guard Desmond Bane on Saturday.

If not Durant, rumours continue to swirl about Toronto’s willingness to make a big move this off-season. While there may not be another marquee name on the market now, Stein isn’t ruling out the possibility.

“The willingness does not guarantee that they will be able to find another splashy move, but look, the rumbles about [them] wanting to do something significant have been going around all month, so is there another difference maker who becomes available at this point?” Stein said.

“That’s not clear, but I would also say that when we woke up Saturday, I don’t know that a lot of us were anticipating Memphis trading [Desmond] Bane, so these things do materialize quickly sometimes.”

[DonDoolie]

These rumors all sound like a disaster waiting to happen. Here is hoping none of this **** is true.

[LoveMyRaps]

HELL NAWWWWWWWW TO MALIK MONK

[RapsFanInOhio]

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

If it's cheap, why not.

Poeltl & Barrett is not “cheap”, let alone anything beyond that.

[DreamTeam09]

Blogs passing around the Raptors name like a Saturday night random ting, I don't like it

[RapsFanInOhio]

Monk? I’m sorry, what?

Did Masai lose his GD mind?

[bballsparkin]

I predict Houston

It's the logical conclusion. I don't blame the Suns for not wanting Green though. Maybe they can reroute him to a developing team for assets.

[RapsFanInOhio]

Patiently tanks for two seasons to gather a strong base of assets with every pick in place through 2030. Compiles a roster that looks pretty talented on paper.

(Ed Rogers happens)

Blows load for Malik Monk.

[bballsparkin]

I still think, and it is not because I want it, that we will trade Yak and RJ, no picks for Sabonis who makes 5 million less than them combined.

Curious, why does Sacramento do this? Please don't tell me they plan to play RJ, DD and LaVine together.

Meh, it's the Kings. I'm surprised Vucevic is not already on the team.

I actually like Vuc's game. He needs a strong defensive big to cover up for him. But definitely not on that team.

[sidsid]

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.

DJ brought it up earlier, but the potential KD + Blazers trade of RJ+ for any of Ayton/Timelord/Simons who are all expiring means you're only looking at potentially Barnes and BI on the cap next offseason plus whatever scraps/rookies. That's two max slots if you wanted to swing it, or just absorb a bad deal like the Nets may do this offseason.

[MiamiSPX]

From Giannis to KD to Ja to Monk.

Big fish.

Give it a few days and we'll be down to the Pat Connaughton tier.

[bballsparkin]

maybe we move back with portland or get out of it completely
I bet TOR wants clingan , since we were super high on him last yr

Read on Twitter

I can't imagine Portland plans to trade Clingan though. Him and Avdija are nice players to build with. I'd be down trading back with Portland if they made it worthwhile.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Why is every single rumour tied to the Raptors make us sound like we're run by a realgmer from another fanbase?