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

[LBJKB24MJ23]

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hes getting moved for AD. They are probably gonna give Trae one last chance with an allstar calibre player.

[CazOnReal]

C/PF Maxime Raynaud (#42) drafted after Alijah Martin (#39) is having a nice rookie season and I think would have really helped the Raptors who obviously were not high on him - Any reason why the Raptors in need of C/PF help passed on him for another guard?

Max wanted to go to Sac, players/agents get to dictate a lot more in the 2nd round.
Kyle Flip wanted to Utah
Max wanted Sac, Shead wanted a standard contract or wanted to go undrafted.

The Filipowski pick (or rather lack thereof) was not just relegated to the Raptors; a lot of teams were "disturbed" (Their words, not mine) about the weird relationship with his girlfriend and passed on him for that reason.

It's why he fell to the 2nd round in the first place.

[Thaddy]

What about sending IQ to the Wolves, we might need to attach a pick but it could be worth it if we get back Reid.

IQ, Agbaji, Mogbo, 2027 1st lotto protected

Reid, Dillingham, Conley (filler)

We get another lottery pick to develop, a stretch big, and a vet in Conley for our first playoff appearance in a long time.

Reid / Poeltl
Barnes / Mamu
Ingram / CMB
Barrett / Dick / Walter
Shead / Conley / Dillingham

I think it's a good move for a team in our position. We get a good young guy to develop, a young C who could be our long term fit and shifts Poeltl to the bench. We could have a full 48 minutes of very good C play.

[ArthurVandelay]

Dalton Knecht needs a fresh start. I’d love to see him getting the opportunities Dick and Ochai are getting.

[LoveMyRaps]

Please get LaMelo!

[LoveMyRaps]

Dalton Knecht needs a fresh start. I’d love to see him getting the opportunities Dick and Ochai are getting.

I think both Mccain and Knecht need a fresh start.

Wonder if we should swap Dick with one of those two.

[ArthurVandelay]

Dalton Knecht needs a fresh start. I’d love to see him getting the opportunities Dick and Ochai are getting.

I think both Mccain and Knecht need a fresh start.

Wonder if we should swap Dick with one of those two.

Lakers need perimeter D. Ochai is a better option for them but the money doesn’t work.

[LBJKB24MJ23]

Dalton Knecht needs a fresh start. I’d love to see him getting the opportunities Dick and Ochai are getting.

Lakers should have just traded Knecht for Mark Williams lol

[MiamiSPX]

Dalton Knecht needs a fresh start. I’d love to see him getting the opportunities Dick and Ochai are getting.

I think both Mccain and Knecht need a fresh start.

Wonder if we should swap Dick with one of those two.

There are a few guys like that around, another one is Missi. I'm down for a "my garbage for your garbage" trade. They often don't work out because well, those guys have proven they are not good, but may as well try something.

[dozo]

Peyton Watson plays with an edge, but as a RFA he carries some risk for raptors to retain him this off-season.

Nuggets
Ochai Agbaji or Gradey Dick
2026 2nd round
(I would consider and another 2026 2nd pick)

Raptors
Peyton Watson

[bartron_44]

They need a big….possibly even two with Poeltl now rarely being available. A couple guys that can help control the defensive rebounds and protect the rim.

IQ is the main contract they need to move since he isnt working out as the starting PG they need. Maybe Poeltl too for a younger big.. But the goal should be to get a true defensive anchor again. Imo

[Son Goku 25]

We gotta get some tougher guys that are skilled we need players like Ibaka, OG on our team.

Portis isn't as great defensively but I think he fits the category.
Skills and more toughness overall I feel like our overall is a bit soft currently.

[Spida888]

I'm trying to work out an IQ trade getting back Monk/Ellis/Carter back from SAC but don't think SAC would want IQ.

Would the bucks actually benefit from having IQ? Giannis and Turner can set picks for him to get open looks as opposed to having him self create which he's not good at. Bucks would also be desperate to keep Giannis. This should be better than trading for Lavine which they may need to give up Portis.

This is what I came up with, gets us under the tax as well:


Monk may be able to replicate close to what IQ provided at a cheaper cost with less years left on his contract. Saric can be another backup big option presuming he's not injured. Ellis would be a nice 3&D guard. I'm not high on Carter but does give us another backup PG option, some watched him in college and thinks he can develop into a 2 way player.

[Merit]

3 team Trade - Toronto/Dallas/Phoenix

To Dallas: Gradey, Garrett Temple (for salary) Nick Richards (via Phoenix) and a 2nd

To Toronto: D’Angelo Russell + Dwight Powell + Dereck Lively

(Dallas loses a headache who doesn’t play and gains a vet who doesn’t mind not playing, Toronto Kyle Lowry’s D’Angelo and gets a backup C who is also a character vet. Then there’s the Gradey for Lively bit and the 2nd next year to even things out. It’s an upside play for the Raps since Lively is out for the season. Heads up - Dallas still has Kyrie.)

Dallas Roster:

PG (Kyrie)/Brandon Williams/RJ Nembhard
SG Christie/Marshall/Temple
SF Flagg/Klay
PF Anthony Davis/PJ Washington
C Gafford/Richards

To Phoenix: IQ, Ochai, Mogbo

To Toronto: Dillon Brooks, Nick Richards (re-routed to Dallas), Royce O’Neale.

(Phoenix gets younger and has cost certainty. They lose Dillon, but Green is coming back. They lose O’Neale, but they have Dunn and Grayson Allen, plus Ochai. They stop forcing Devin Booker to play PG and they’re still stacked. Mogbo is the second rounder they never had, and they need a big wing anyway. The question here is whether Booker can play SF while Green plays the 2. I think yes. Toronto Detroits. They go with vets to shore themselves up for a playoff run. I cannot WAIT to see Dillon in a Raptors Jersey!)

Phoenix Roster:

PG IQ/Gillespie
SG Green/Ochai
SF Booker/Allen
PF Dunn/Mogbo
C Williams/Ighodaro/Maluach

Raps Final Roster:

PG Russell/Shead
SG RJ/Brooks/Jakobe
SF BI/O’Neale
PF Scottie/CMB
C Jak/Powell/(Lively)

The biggest question for the raptors IMO is whether their locker room is strong enough to absorb the personalities of both Dillon and Russell.

Talent wise? This is easily a top 3 team in the East, and IMO would be Finals bound. I don’t think anyone other than Houston and OKC can match our depth or shooting. We have rotation options galore. You think Shead/Jakobe/Brooks/O’Neale/CMB can’t handle backups? They’d crush them. Russell and his shooting, size and actual PG skills helps keep the starting lineup status quo at least. If we feel we’re really stuck for shooting, moving RJ to a 6th man role and starting Dillon really improves both our defense and our spacing.

The long term upside play is Lively, and the short term upside play is Russell. D’Angelo is stupidly talented, and now he can prove he’s still worth employing in the NBA. Brooks and O’Neale are solid vets who defend and shoot. Best part? No more IQ, Gradey, Ochai or Mogbo. Even better? We can still make a move for a max contract as early as this offseason if this doesn’t work. That said, according to fanspo I’ve added 7 wins to the roster. That means we are in the 50 win ballpark. IMO this is just as good or better than trading for anyone not named Giannis. We’ve seen what having solid vets can do to a team (Detroit) - so why not take that approach and keep all our first rounders? Oh and we add two Canadians to boot, and we duck the tax!

[Son Goku 25]

3 team Trade - Toronto/Dallas/Phoenix

To Dallas: Gradey, Garrett Temple (for salary) Nick Richards (via Phoenix) and a 2nd

To Toronto: D’Angelo Russell + Dwight Powell + Dereck Lively

(Dallas loses a headache who doesn’t play and gains a vet who doesn’t mind not playing, Toronto Kyle Lowry’s D’Angelo and gets a backup C who is also a character vet. Then there’s the Gradey for Lively bit and the 2nd next year to even things out. It’s an upside play for the Raps since Lively is out for the season. Heads up - Dallas still has Kyrie.)

Dallas Roster:

PG (Kyrie)/Brandon Williams/RJ Nembhard
SG Christie/Marshall/Temple
SF Flagg/Klay
PF Anthony Davis/PJ Washington
C Gafford/Richards

To Phoenix: IQ, Ochai, Mogbo

To Toronto: Dillon Brooks, Nick Richards (re-routed to Dallas), Royce O’Neale.

(Phoenix gets younger and has cost certainty. They lose Dillon, but Green is coming back. They lose O’Neale, but they have Dunn and Grayson Allen, plus Ochai. They stop forcing Devin Booker to play PG and they’re still stacked. Mogbo is the second rounder they never had, and they need a big wing anyway. The question here is whether Brooks can play SF while Green plays the 2. I think yes.Toronto Detroits. They go with vets to shore themselves up for a playoff run. I cannot WAIT to see Dillon in a Raptors Jersey!)

Phoenix Roster:

PG IQ/Gillespie
SG Green/Ochai
SF Booker/Allen
PF Dunn/Mogbo
C Williams/Ighodaro/Maluach

Raps Final Roster:

PG Russell/Shead
SG RJ/Brooks/Jakobe
SF BI/O’Neale
PF Scottie/CMB
C Jak/Powell/(Lively)

The biggest question for the raptors IMO is whether their locker room is strong enough to absorb the personalities of both Dillon and Russell.

Talent wise? This is easily a top 3 team in the East, and IMO would be Finals bound. I don’t think anyone other than Houston and OKC can match our depth or shooting. We have rotation options galore. You think Shead/Jakobe/Brooks/O’Neale/CMB can’t handle backups? They’d crush them. Russell and his shooting, size and actual PG skills helps keep the starting lineup status quo at least. If we feel we’re really stuck for shooting, moving RJ to a 6th man role and starting Dillon really improves both our defense and our spacing.

The long term upside play is Lively, and the short term upside play is Russell. D’Angelo is stupidly talented, and now he can prove he’s still worth employing in the NBA. Brooks and O’Neale are solid vets who defend and shoot. Best part? No more IQ, Gradey, Ochai or Mogbo. Even better? We can still make a move for a max contract as early as this offseason if this doesn’t work. That said, according to fanspo I’ve added 7 wins to the roster. That means we are in the 50 win ballpark. IMO this is just as good or better than trading for anyone not named Giannis. We’ve seen what having solid vets can do to a team (Detroit) - so why not take that approach and keep all our first rounders? Oh and we add two Canadians to boot, and we duck the tax!

I like it.

Gets the Canadian boys together too.

[Van_Trump]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25344223-3-trade-targets-every-nba-team-2026

Raptors:
Day'Ron Sharpe
Saddiq Bey
Jock Landale

[navyblue]

3 team Trade - Toronto/Dallas/Phoenix

To Dallas: Gradey, Garrett Temple (for salary) Nick Richards (via Phoenix) and a 2nd

To Toronto: D’Angelo Russell + Dwight Powell + Dereck Lively

(Dallas loses a headache who doesn’t play and gains a vet who doesn’t mind not playing, Toronto Kyle Lowry’s D’Angelo and gets a backup C who is also a character vet. Then there’s the Gradey for Lively bit and the 2nd next year to even things out. It’s an upside play for the Raps since Lively is out for the season. Heads up - Dallas still has Kyrie.)

Dallas Roster:

PG (Kyrie)/Brandon Williams/RJ Nembhard
SG Christie/Marshall/Temple
SF Flagg/Klay
PF Anthony Davis/PJ Washington
C Gafford/Richards

To Phoenix: IQ, Ochai, Mogbo

To Toronto: Dillon Brooks, Nick Richards (re-routed to Dallas), Royce O’Neale.

(Phoenix gets younger and has cost certainty. They lose Dillon, but Green is coming back. They lose O’Neale, but they have Dunn and Grayson Allen, plus Ochai. They stop forcing Devin Booker to play PG and they’re still stacked. Mogbo is the second rounder they never had, and they need a big wing anyway. The question here is whether Brooks can play SF while Green plays the 2. I think yes.Toronto Detroits. They go with vets to shore themselves up for a playoff run. I cannot WAIT to see Dillon in a Raptors Jersey!)

Phoenix Roster:

PG IQ/Gillespie
SG Green/Ochai
SF Booker/Allen
PF Dunn/Mogbo
C Williams/Ighodaro/Maluach

Raps Final Roster:

PG Russell/Shead
SG RJ/Brooks/Jakobe
SF BI/O’Neale
PF Scottie/CMB
C Jak/Powell/(Lively)

The biggest question for the raptors IMO is whether their locker room is strong enough to absorb the personalities of both Dillon and Russell.

Talent wise? This is easily a top 3 team in the East, and IMO would be Finals bound. I don’t think anyone other than Houston and OKC can match our depth or shooting. We have rotation options galore. You think Shead/Jakobe/Brooks/O’Neale/CMB can’t handle backups? They’d crush them. Russell and his shooting, size and actual PG skills helps keep the starting lineup status quo at least. If we feel we’re really stuck for shooting, moving RJ to a 6th man role and starting Dillon really improves both our defense and our spacing.

The long term upside play is Lively, and the short term upside play is Russell. D’Angelo is stupidly talented, and now he can prove he’s still worth employing in the NBA. Brooks and O’Neale are solid vets who defend and shoot. Best part? No more IQ, Gradey, Ochai or Mogbo. Even better? We can still make a move for a max contract as early as this offseason if this doesn’t work. That said, according to fanspo I’ve added 7 wins to the roster. That means we are in the 50 win ballpark. IMO this is just as good or better than trading for anyone not named Giannis. We’ve seen what having solid vets can do to a team (Detroit) - so why not take that approach and keep all our first rounders? Oh and we add two Canadians to boot, and we duck the tax!

suns are not trading dillon brooks, he is their culture right now, arguably the MVP of the team.

[dballislife]

how much potential does this team possess?

cmb
markkanen
ingram
rj
barnes

[Merit]

3 team Trade - Toronto/Dallas/Phoenix

To Dallas: Gradey, Garrett Temple (for salary) Nick Richards (via Phoenix) and a 2nd

To Toronto: D’Angelo Russell + Dwight Powell + Dereck Lively

(Dallas loses a headache who doesn’t play and gains a vet who doesn’t mind not playing, Toronto Kyle Lowry’s D’Angelo and gets a backup C who is also a character vet. Then there’s the Gradey for Lively bit and the 2nd next year to even things out. It’s an upside play for the Raps since Lively is out for the season. Heads up - Dallas still has Kyrie.)

Dallas Roster:

PG (Kyrie)/Brandon Williams/RJ Nembhard
SG Christie/Marshall/Temple
SF Flagg/Klay
PF Anthony Davis/PJ Washington
C Gafford/Richards

To Phoenix: IQ, Ochai, Mogbo

To Toronto: Dillon Brooks, Nick Richards (re-routed to Dallas), Royce O’Neale.

(Phoenix gets younger and has cost certainty. They lose Dillon, but Green is coming back. They lose O’Neale, but they have Dunn and Grayson Allen, plus Ochai. They stop forcing Devin Booker to play PG and they’re still stacked. Mogbo is the second rounder they never had, and they need a big wing anyway. The question here is whether Brooks can play SF while Green plays the 2. I think yes.Toronto Detroits. They go with vets to shore themselves up for a playoff run. I cannot WAIT to see Dillon in a Raptors Jersey!)

Phoenix Roster:

PG IQ/Gillespie
SG Green/Ochai
SF Booker/Allen
PF Dunn/Mogbo
C Williams/Ighodaro/Maluach

Raps Final Roster:

PG Russell/Shead
SG RJ/Brooks/Jakobe
SF BI/O’Neale
PF Scottie/CMB
C Jak/Powell/(Lively)

The biggest question for the raptors IMO is whether their locker room is strong enough to absorb the personalities of both Dillon and Russell.

Talent wise? This is easily a top 3 team in the East, and IMO would be Finals bound. I don’t think anyone other than Houston and OKC can match our depth or shooting. We have rotation options galore. You think Shead/Jakobe/Brooks/O’Neale/CMB can’t handle backups? They’d crush them. Russell and his shooting, size and actual PG skills helps keep the starting lineup status quo at least. If we feel we’re really stuck for shooting, moving RJ to a 6th man role and starting Dillon really improves both our defense and our spacing.

The long term upside play is Lively, and the short term upside play is Russell. D’Angelo is stupidly talented, and now he can prove he’s still worth employing in the NBA. Brooks and O’Neale are solid vets who defend and shoot. Best part? No more IQ, Gradey, Ochai or Mogbo. Even better? We can still make a move for a max contract as early as this offseason if this doesn’t work. That said, according to fanspo I’ve added 7 wins to the roster. That means we are in the 50 win ballpark. IMO this is just as good or better than trading for anyone not named Giannis. We’ve seen what having solid vets can do to a team (Detroit) - so why not take that approach and keep all our first rounders? Oh and we add two Canadians to boot, and we duck the tax!

suns are not trading dillon brooks, he is their culture right now, arguably the MVP of the team.

Only because Green has been injured. Speaking as a person who has green present tense and had brooks on my fantasy team, brooks counting stats are inflated because of his being forced into playing starters minutes. As far as culture, I can’t speak to that because I don’t know phoenix well enough. However, Phoenix gets the best player in the deal (IQ) and gets a ton younger with rookie scale contracts - which they need to do. I don’t see why they would keep Brooks when they have alternatives to him in Dunn, Allen, Ochai, Mogbo etc. Plus Green will be back too. Everyone can’t play - and this is a situation where it moves Booker back to his regular SG or SF position, where he is better suited. This is also a great place for IQ where he can play an off-ball role and his shooting complements Book and Green really well. Raps commit to everyone not named IQ and get vets to push the timeline up to this year. They have 2 or 3 picks this draft, depending on whether they include a 2016 2nd above, so can fill in the gaps as needed. Phoenix doesn’t have that luxury.

[Thaddy]

how much potential does this team possess?

cmb
markkanen
ingram
rj
barnes

Screen navigation and rim protection are important. That team would struggle.

I'd personally try IQ / 1st for Reid and Dillingham. Then later on try to flip RJ into a guard like Lamelo.

Poeltl / Mamu
Reid / CMB
Ingram / Walter
Barnes / Shead
Ball / Dillingham

I think that would be a contender.