2025-26 Season: Draft, Trades, and FA Ideas Thread V1.0

[Spida888]

Would y’all use Sandro as a sweetener to swap IQ for Garland?

If that's all it took, sure, considering he has a player option for next season and may opt out.
I don't see us going deep into the tax to re-sign him unless there's some shakeup to reduce salary for next season.

I would think it takes more than that though. I would have no problem giving up Gradey/Walter plus a protected pick for Garland. If there's any way to also dump Poeltl and get Jarrett Allen with more picks going their way, that'd be great.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Would y’all use Sandro as a sweetener to swap IQ for Garland?

If that's all it took, sure, considering he has a player option for next season and may opt out.
I don't see us going deep into the tax to re-sign him unless there's some shakeup to reduce salary for next season.

I would think it takes more than that though. I would have no problem giving up Gradey/Walter plus a protected pick for Garland. If there's any way to also dump Poeltl and get Jarrett Allen with more picks going their way, that'd be great.

Doubt they take on 2 bad contracts in one deal. It would theoretically be IQ/Walter/Sandro and some pick capital (protected or swaps) for Garland. They are second apron so can only trade one player per deal

Then we have to move Ochai to duck the tax

Garland/RJ/BI/Scottie/Poeltl
Shead/Dick/Battle/CMB/Mogbo

Hopefully we can move Ochai for a bench big to round out the roster.

Even though losing Sandro would kill some of our shooting, I think overall this is a better balanced team and Garland is way better than IQ when healthy. I also think CMB has potential as a stretch 4

[Spida888]

Would y’all use Sandro as a sweetener to swap IQ for Garland?

If that's all it took, sure, considering he has a player option for next season and may opt out.
I don't see us going deep into the tax to re-sign him unless there's some shakeup to reduce salary for next season.

I would think it takes more than that though. I would have no problem giving up Gradey/Walter plus a protected pick for Garland. If there's any way to also dump Poeltl and get Jarrett Allen with more picks going their way, that'd be great.

Doubt they take on 2 bad contracts in one deal. It would theoretically be IQ/Walter/Sandro and some pick capital (protected or swaps) for Garland. They are second apron so can only trade one player per deal

Then we have to move Ochai to duck the tax

Garland/RJ/BI/Scottie/Poeltl
Shead/Dick/Battle/CMB/Mogbo

Hopefully we can move Ochai for a bench big to round out the roster.

Even though losing Sandro would kill some of our shooting, I think overall this is a better balanced team and Garland is way better than IQ when healthy. I also think CMB has potential as a stretch 4

Yes, doubtful they would take on two bad contracts, especially Poeltl given his injury concerns.
They are over the 2nd apron, but it can be two separate trades for IQ+ and Poeltl separately if they really want to make it happen.

I'm curious what the asking price is for Garland vs Lamelo. Both are more offensively gifted than IQ, but even worse defensively. Lamelo's trade value should be lower given his injury record.

[Tripod]

If YAK OUT for season and IF Raps still looking to compete...

Knicks Center Yabusule? For one or two of.our scrubs?

He was someone I thought about as well. Still not a big C like we need, but he does play bigger than he is.

Having an awful time in NY and they want to dump him because he has a PO he likely picks up. But he makes 5ish mill, so less than Ochai so you could see how that type of deal could help both teams.

We need to keep an eye on other teams guys in doghouses and see if we can nab a guy.

Yabusule, Monk, Reed are 3 guys who have fallen out of rotations that the Raps could actually use.

[bluerap23]

How would you rank supposedly available PGs?
Lamelo, Garland, Trae, IQ, Ja

[Spida888]

How would you rank supposedly available PGs?
Lamelo, Garland, Trae, IQ, Ja

1. Garland - been injured but can bounce back; contract locked in for a few years.
2. Lamelo - good size; plagued by injuries otherwise would have him #1.
3. Ja - high risk disturbance; can be injury prone as well.
4. Trae - paid more than the above and player option next year.
5. IQ - overpaid at 32.5M for his inconsistent production. If his salary was mid 20s, his value would be better.

[BCbudraptorfan]

So grizz sign koloko wtf are we doing with the center position bobby

[Dexjackson]

Beyond the counting looking at total pts/asts/reb, what is the appeal with Lamelo? I guess he's still young too.

All I see when I look at him is a player who cares more about himself. is a terrible defender. He's super injury prone. Cares more about looking good than making winning plays. He's basically the opposite of what Lowry was for us. I'm not at all convinced he would buy into a team ball concept on offense and give effort on D. Really the only reason he's mildly interesting to me is because we also have an overpaid PG. I wouldn't do anything more than IQ and filler. Probably doesn't get it done and that's fine by me.

[polo007]

Raptors earn early Christmas present in win, continue to navigate Poeltl's injury - Sportsnet.ca

Where to get help?

For the time being, let’s forget about the big shiny objects out there, which may not even be available, or where the acquisition cost could be such that you create more issues fixing a problem than you had in the first place.

If Anthony Davis, Domantas Sabonis or even Ivica Zubac (another name that has come up lately if the woeful Los Angeles Clippers go into sell-off mode) gets traded, the cost will be high, and it most likely won't happen until much closer to the Feb. 5th trade deadline. The Raptors have 21 games between now and then. They can’t wait.

Even turning to depth options — players who could carry some weight while Poeltl gets his back problems sorted out and be useful rotation-level contributors when he’s back — is a little complicated. Because, rest assured, the Raptors' need for centre depth is not something that is known only locally. Toronto's front office can ask about Gogo Bitadze, Nick Richards or Robert Williams, but knowing its needs, chances are Orlando, Phoenix and Portland, respectively, will be looking for a premium to make a trade at this stage, knowing that they can sell at cost closer to the deadline if need be.

So, they’re out of luck?

No, not exactly. There is the potential of a bridge-type solution, where the Raptors sign a centre now at minimal cost to tide them over until they can consider a more stable solution if still needed at the trade deadline. Most of the Raptors front office were in Orlando over the weekend watching the Raptors 905, Toronto's affiliate team at the NBA G League's Winter Showcase. The 905 lost in the Final — snapping a record 16-game win streak — to the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate, but not all was lost as the Raptors got a front-row look at Mo Bamba, the enigmatic, though talented centre who was the 6th player taken in the 2018 draft by the Orlando Magic. And Bamba looked great.

He helped Salt Lake City to the Cup title by contributing 16.5 points on 68 per cent shooting while grabbing 15 rebounds (four offensive), dishing three assists and blocking two shots across the Semifinal and Final. He hit all of his free throws and two threes on three attempts. He’s shooting 40 per cent from distance for the season in the G League. That Bamba can play is no shock. A skilled seven-footer with a 7-foot-9 standing reach is simply too good for the G League. So what’s he doing flying commercial? Why has he bounced through five organizations in the three years since the Magic cut ties with their former lottery pick during the 2022-23 season?

I asked around, and the simplest answer is his on-court effort: his reputation is that the 27-year-old doesn’t try hard enough, often enough. “He has every tool necessary to be an elite player … but he will always be a tease, unfortunately,” was how one league executive put it.

[MessiahUjiri]

Raptors earn early Christmas present in win, continue to navigate Poeltl's injury - Sportsnet.ca

Where to get help?

For the time being, let’s forget about the big shiny objects out there, which may not even be available, or where the acquisition cost could be such that you create more issues fixing a problem than you had in the first place.

If Anthony Davis, Domantas Sabonis or even Ivica Zubac (another name that has come up lately if the woeful Los Angeles Clippers go into sell-off mode) gets traded, the cost will be high, and it most likely won't happen until much closer to the Feb. 5th trade deadline. The Raptors have 21 games between now and then. They can’t wait.

Even turning to depth options — players who could carry some weight while Poeltl gets his back problems sorted out and be useful rotation-level contributors when he’s back — is a little complicated. Because, rest assured, the Raptors' need for centre depth is not something that is known only locally. Toronto's front office can ask about Gogo Bitadze, Nick Richards or Robert Williams, but knowing its needs, chances are Orlando, Phoenix and Portland, respectively, will be looking for a premium to make a trade at this stage, knowing that they can sell at cost closer to the deadline if need be.

So, they’re out of luck?

No, not exactly. There is the potential of a bridge-type solution, where the Raptors sign a centre now at minimal cost to tide them over until they can consider a more stable solution if still needed at the trade deadline. Most of the Raptors front office were in Orlando over the weekend watching the Raptors 905, Toronto's affiliate team at the NBA G League's Winter Showcase. The 905 lost in the Final — snapping a record 16-game win streak — to the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate, but not all was lost as the Raptors got a front-row look at Mo Bamba, the enigmatic, though talented centre who was the 6th player taken in the 2018 draft by the Orlando Magic. And Bamba looked great.

He helped Salt Lake City to the Cup title by contributing 16.5 points on 68 per cent shooting while grabbing 15 rebounds (four offensive), dishing three assists and blocking two shots across the Semifinal and Final. He hit all of his free throws and two threes on three attempts. He’s shooting 40 per cent from distance for the season in the G League. That Bamba can play is no shock. A skilled seven-footer with a 7-foot-9 standing reach is simply too good for the G League. So what’s he doing flying commercial? Why has he bounced through five organizations in the three years since the Magic cut ties with their former lottery pick during the 2022-23 season?

I asked around, and the simplest answer is his on-court effort: his reputation is that the 27-year-old doesn’t try hard enough, often enough. “He has every tool necessary to be an elite player … but he will always be a tease, unfortunately,” was how one league executive put it.

I thought Mo Bamba would be like a bigger Myles Turner, a perfect floor stretching and shot blocking C.

What a waste.

Since we’re over the tax, it seems unlikely to be adding even minimum players, unless there’s a bigger trade elsewhere what cuts the payroll.

[LoveMyRaps]

How would you rank supposedly available PGs?
Lamelo, Garland, Trae, IQ, Ja

1. Garland - been injured but can bounce back; contract locked in for a few years.
2. Lamelo - good size; plagued by injuries otherwise would have him #1.
3. Ja - high risk disturbance; can be injury prone as well.
4. Trae - paid more than the above and player option next year.
5. IQ - overpaid at 32.5M for his inconsistent production. If his salary was mid 20s, his value would be better.

Crazy how Garland has been significantly more inconsistent and inefficient, is a lot less durable, and has an even worse contract than IQ.

[basketballto]

Would y’all use Sandro as a sweetener to swap IQ for Garland?

If that's all it took, sure, considering he has a player option for next season and may opt out.
I don't see us going deep into the tax to re-sign him unless there's some shakeup to reduce salary for next season.

I would think it takes more than that though. I would have no problem giving up Gradey/Walter plus a protected pick for Garland. If there's any way to also dump Poeltl and get Jarrett Allen with more picks going their way, that'd be great.

Doubt they take on 2 bad contracts in one deal. It would theoretically be IQ/Walter/Sandro and some pick capital (protected or swaps) for Garland. They are second apron so can only trade one player per deal

Then we have to move Ochai to duck the tax

Garland/RJ/BI/Scottie/Poeltl
Shead/Dick/Battle/CMB/Mogbo

Hopefully we can move Ochai for a bench big to round out the roster.

Even though losing Sandro would kill some of our shooting, I think overall this is a better balanced team and Garland is way better than IQ when healthy. I also think CMB has potential as a stretch 4

Everyone said we need a guy like Sandro who can play center and shoot the three. People were begging for that. We finally sign someone like that and somehow we are trading him with Gradey and IQ for Garland who can't play defense.

We need to fix our starting center not ignore that and trade our only healthy center for a pg who can't defend a speedy guard.

[Kingsway_fan]

1. Mamu has been brilliant. We need to do whatever it takes to extend him.

2.we also need to sign someone like Mo Bamba to strengthen our depth at C.

3. We need to unload players like Dick, etc., that don't add any value...

[Mr Fitzhume]

we also need to sign someone like Mo Bamba to strengthen our depth at C.

Not sure if he’s an NBA player at best. Too slow to switch on screens and always gets bullied in the post despite his size. Often falls asleep on defense.

His motor is just not there. Runs from 3 point line to 3 point line for possessions at a time. Not much a basketball IQ. He played in the league because he’s tall enough.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

If that's all it took, sure, considering he has a player option for next season and may opt out.
I don't see us going deep into the tax to re-sign him unless there's some shakeup to reduce salary for next season.

I would think it takes more than that though. I would have no problem giving up Gradey/Walter plus a protected pick for Garland. If there's any way to also dump Poeltl and get Jarrett Allen with more picks going their way, that'd be great.

Doubt they take on 2 bad contracts in one deal. It would theoretically be IQ/Walter/Sandro and some pick capital (protected or swaps) for Garland. They are second apron so can only trade one player per deal

Then we have to move Ochai to duck the tax

Garland/RJ/BI/Scottie/Poeltl
Shead/Dick/Battle/CMB/Mogbo

Hopefully we can move Ochai for a bench big to round out the roster.

Even though losing Sandro would kill some of our shooting, I think overall this is a better balanced team and Garland is way better than IQ when healthy. I also think CMB has potential as a stretch 4

Everyone said we need a guy like Sandro who can play center and shoot the three. People were begging for that. We finally sign someone like that and somehow we are trading him with Gradey and IQ for Garland who can't play defense.

We need to fix our starting center not ignore that and trade our only healthy center for a pg who can't defend a speedy guard.

I’m not convinced we can even retain Sandro given our current cap situation. IQ is literally one of the worst guards averaging over 30 minutes a game and this team isn’t realistically going to be competitive IJ the playoffs this year.

Garland is such an upgrade offensively over IQ I think our floor gets much higher with him in the lineup. The big situation needs sorting out but dumping IQ for an actual star level PG in the same price range would be a massive upgrade to our dead last ranked offense (were top 5 in defense with a C every 3rd game and IQ isn’t a good defender either)

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[UnbelievablyRAW]

How would you rank supposedly available PGs?
Lamelo, Garland, Trae, IQ, Ja

1. Garland - been injured but can bounce back; contract locked in for a few years.
2. Lamelo - good size; plagued by injuries otherwise would have him #1.
3. Ja - high risk disturbance; can be injury prone as well.
4. Trae - paid more than the above and player option next year.
5. IQ - overpaid at 32.5M for his inconsistent production. If his salary was mid 20s, his value would be better.

Crazy how Garland has been significantly more inconsistent and inefficient, is a lot less durable, and has an even worse contract than IQ.

Maybe this season but he at least has a proven body of work from past years to show he can be a star level offensive playmaker and scorer

Also in the last 4 seasons Garland has played in 82% of the available RS games and IQ has played in 79% of his.

[bluerap23]

Small deal that gets us a young Centre with potential and gets us under the tax while helping NO get more shooting and keeps them under the tax.

[bluerap23]

1. Garland - been injured but can bounce back; contract locked in for a few years.
2. Lamelo - good size; plagued by injuries otherwise would have him #1.
3. Ja - high risk disturbance; can be injury prone as well.
4. Trae - paid more than the above and player option next year.
5. IQ - overpaid at 32.5M for his inconsistent production. If his salary was mid 20s, his value would be better.

Crazy how Garland has been significantly more inconsistent and inefficient, is a lot less durable, and has an even worse contract than IQ.

Maybe this season but he at least has a proven body of work from past years to show he can be a star level offensive playmaker and scorer

Also in the last 4 seasons Garland has played in 82% of the available RS games and IQ has played in 79% of his.

I'm going
1. LaMelo - He is younger so hopefully he can still mature, has size to defend. Injuries are the main concern. Still a flawed player to commit a lot of cap to.
2. Garland - Still think he can be elite offensive engine. Foot injury is troublesome. Really bad defender.
3. IQ - some may disagree with me but he fits as 4th best starter just way overpaid for that role. Still lowest AAV of all these dudes.
4. Trae - Elite offensive PG. Terrible defender. Major issue is next contract. Likely doesn't stay.
5. Ja - Best offensive talent but performance this year doesn't make sense. I can't see Toronto touching him with 10 foot poll based on his off-court issues. Memphis has really done everything to keep him happy so he has no reason to be this bad this year.

I looked at Cleveland and Charlotte trades. I can't find a sensible Cleveland deal. Charlotte is a little easier. Still really unsure about it.

[PushDaRock]

Small deal that gets us a young Centre with potential and gets us under the tax while helping NO get more shooting and keeps them under the tax.

Gradey's shooting is helping us a lot so I'm sure he would help the Pelicans a lot too!!!

[ill-Will03]

Small deal that gets us a young Centre with potential and gets us under the tax while helping NO get more shooting and keeps them under the tax.

Why would NO do this? Yves is way better than Gradey