ImageImageImageImageImage

If you HAD to trade for one, who and why?

Moderators: HiJiNX, 7 Footer, Morris_Shatford, niQ, Duffman100, tsherkin, Reeko, lebron stopper, DG88

Who would you trade for?

Trae
14
20%
AD
37
53%
Sabonis
19
27%
 
Total votes: 70

User avatar
ImaBeatDatAzz
Assistant Coach
Posts: 4,140
And1: 4,492
Joined: May 07, 2017
Location: Toronto
   

If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#1 » by ImaBeatDatAzz » Wed Jan 7, 2026 8:50 pm

Don’t ask why but, Ed Rogers gun to the head.. you must trade for one of these 3 players:

- Trae
- AD
- Sabonis

Who you trading for? And what would you give up?
114-110... "Curry lets it fly...CANADA THE NBA TITLE IS YOURS."
User avatar
Westside Gunn
Head Coach
Posts: 6,208
And1: 7,095
Joined: Jul 03, 2016
       

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#2 » by Westside Gunn » Wed Jan 7, 2026 9:18 pm

I would trade for Sabonis. As balanced as this team already is, having him at C would make us a lot better.

You would have to give up the farm for Trae Young.

AD is a bad business move at this point. Easy sell to rogers
Tor_Raps
RealGM
Posts: 34,142
And1: 49,068
Joined: Oct 14, 2018

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#3 » by Tor_Raps » Wed Jan 7, 2026 9:22 pm

AD is the best player by far but also the eldest and most injury prone. The timeline just doesnt make sense.

I wanted Trae but if Washington is really at the top of his wish list then that tells me everything about him so hes a no.

Sabonis would look good beside Barnes/CMB locking everything down beside him. Its a complete departure from what hes had in Sacramento with Murray who is pretty much a perimeter defensive wing. Even though hes a bad defender, he's a great rebounder, which is also part of defense that doesnt get mentioned enough.
JB7
Lead Assistant
Posts: 4,549
And1: 2,096
Joined: Jun 03, 2002

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#4 » by JB7 » Wed Jan 7, 2026 9:50 pm

Is letting him pull the trigger an option? There's a chance there are no bullets in the gun.
User avatar
realball
Head Coach
Posts: 6,343
And1: 3,388
Joined: Sep 13, 2006
 

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#5 » by realball » Wed Jan 7, 2026 9:54 pm

Depends entirely on what picks they are asking for. Don't want to give up 1sts for any of these guys.
MiamiSPX
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,912
And1: 7,475
Joined: May 19, 2023
         

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#6 » by MiamiSPX » Wed Jan 7, 2026 9:58 pm

Sabonis is the only one that would come in not expecting an extension right away, And Sacramento is terribly run, so there is always a chance for a fleece in our favor.
YogurtProducer
RealGM
Posts: 32,245
And1: 34,623
Joined: Jul 22, 2013
Location: Saskatchewan
       

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#7 » by YogurtProducer » Wed Jan 7, 2026 10:23 pm

Trae.

Youngest of the bunch. Arguably the best at this point of the 3's careers (availability matters). And you cant win with a non-defence playing C (sabonis).
User avatar
MEDIC
RealGM
Posts: 21,259
And1: 12,035
Joined: Jul 25, 2006

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#8 » by MEDIC » Wed Jan 7, 2026 10:30 pm

That's a tough one.

AD is a no.

It would come down the Sabas & Trae.

I like the length of Sabonis contract. Fits our timeline. Its also managable. C position would be locked up. He would be one of the best C's we have had & I think he would be a fan fave. Kind of a Marc Gasol type.

I like.the Trae contract as well. Could give him a trial run & if it looks like it is not working, trade him as an expiring. Free up some money.

It really depends on what the Raps are giving up & getting in return.

Both Trae & Sabonis are similar options (offensive players with sus defense) but different positions.

Trae contract gives flexibility. Sabonis gives certainty.

This really comes down to Darko & how he envisions each of them fitting into his system.
Image
* Props to the man, the myth, the legend......TZ.
Basketball_Jones
RealGM
Posts: 31,038
And1: 18,250
Joined: Mar 09, 2004
     

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#9 » by Basketball_Jones » Wed Jan 7, 2026 10:36 pm

AD. Best of the bunch and hopefully not locked into him for very long when it inevitably fails.
2019 Eastern Conference All Stars

Derozan
Lowry
Ibaka
Valanciunas
Van Vleet
Delon Wright
Lebron
Embiid

There are only 2 teams in the league that rank in the top 6 in offensive and defensive efficiency: the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors.
User avatar
Tha Cynic
RealGM
Posts: 27,833
And1: 30,203
Joined: Jan 03, 2006
Location: Starin' at the world through my rearview
     

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#10 » by Tha Cynic » Wed Jan 7, 2026 10:38 pm

The Raptors are an Eastern conference finals contender with Davis playing and a lottery team with him injured.

With Trae they are probably around where they are now but would be able to withstand and Ingram injury better and have better potential in the playoffs.

Sabonis will probably just keep this team similar to what they are now
Kobe Bryant: “You asked for my hustle - I gave you my heart, because it came with so much more."~Kobe #MambaOut
kalel123
Head Coach
Posts: 6,615
And1: 4,960
Joined: Oct 19, 2004

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#11 » by kalel123 » Wed Jan 7, 2026 10:43 pm

MEDIC wrote:That's a tough one.

AD is a no.

It would come down the Sabas & Trae.

I like the length of Sabonis contract. Fits our timeline. Its also managable. C position would be locked up. He would be one of the best C's we have had & I think he would be a fan fave. Kind of a Marc Gasol type.

I like.the Trae contract as well. Could give him a trial run & if it looks like it is not working, trade him as an expiring. Free up some money.

It really depends on what the Raps are giving up & getting in return.

Both Trae & Sabonis are similar options (offensive players with sus defense) but different positions.

Trae contract gives flexibility. Sabonis gives certainty.

This really comes down to Darko & how he envisions each of them fitting into his system.


I think it more likely if we get Trae Young, they probably look to do an extension right away similar to Ingram than try him out and let him potentially leave for nothing. And potential numbers in that situation kinda scares me knowing this team likes to overpay, which is half of why I want nothing to do with Young. The other half being he just sucks at playing winning basketball due to his lack of defense (one of the worst) and horrid shot selection.
tecumseh18
RealGM
Posts: 19,168
And1: 11,394
Joined: Feb 20, 2006
Location: Big green house
 

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#12 » by tecumseh18 » Wed Jan 7, 2026 10:46 pm

Tha Cynic wrote:The Raptors are an Eastern conference finals contender with Davis playing and a lottery team with him injured.


Raps won a chip by taking a chance on an injury risk. As a non-destination franchise with bad lottery luck (plus losing the coin flips on the Pacers pick that resulted in JKB), it's the only way we can win.

But not with RJ going the other way. Jak + IQ straight up for AD does work. It takes us further into the tax, but with Rogers in charge spending money doesn't seem to be a problem any more. If a first is required, then make it lottery protected for the next three seasons, turning to two seconds if unused.
User avatar
ForeverTFC
RealGM
Posts: 18,260
And1: 20,005
Joined: Dec 07, 2004
         

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#13 » by ForeverTFC » Wed Jan 7, 2026 10:46 pm

AD.

Trae takes the ball out of Scottie and Ingram's hands, we don't need that. AD probably easier to trade on an expiring than Sabonis.
kalel123
Head Coach
Posts: 6,615
And1: 4,960
Joined: Oct 19, 2004

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#14 » by kalel123 » Wed Jan 7, 2026 10:50 pm

This is no choice at all.

Sabonis is the most solid of the 3 (i.e. highest floor) but also lowest ceiling. So kinda meh~

With Young, I'm scared what this team would try to offer him in an extension cause I think the desire would be to sign him to an extension at a possibly lower annual number than his PO. My fear is that that number is going to be too damn close to his PO for comfort knowing this FO's a sucker for competing against itself and overpaying. And he just doesn't play winning ball, giant target/hole on defense.

AD: wouldn't want to touch with a ten-foot pole. A team that gets AD on top of Ingram is just asking for trouble IMO. He's also looking for extension and would want/need even bigger money.
kalel123
Head Coach
Posts: 6,615
And1: 4,960
Joined: Oct 19, 2004

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#15 » by kalel123 » Wed Jan 7, 2026 10:51 pm

tecumseh18 wrote:
Tha Cynic wrote:The Raptors are an Eastern conference finals contender with Davis playing and a lottery team with him injured.


Raps won a chip by taking a chance on an injury risk. As a non-destination franchise with bad lottery luck (plus losing the coin flips on the Pacers pick that resulted in JKB), it's the only way we can win.

But not with RJ going the other way. Jak + IQ straight up for AD does work. It takes us further into the tax, but with Rogers in charge spending money doesn't seem to be a problem any more. If a first is required, then make it lottery protected for the next three seasons, turning to two seconds if unused.


We already taking that risk with Ingram. Adding AD on top of that would be taking a few steps too far into disaster zone.
User avatar
TorontoBarneys
Head Coach
Posts: 6,096
And1: 7,281
Joined: Dec 30, 2022
   

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#16 » by TorontoBarneys » Wed Jan 7, 2026 11:04 pm

Sabonis is a lateral trade. AD & Trae are both potential upgrades but in terms of the risk & potential return, AD is higher in both. Pick your poison.
User avatar
SFour
RealGM
Posts: 41,878
And1: 62,310
Joined: Apr 07, 2012
   

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#17 » by SFour » Wed Jan 7, 2026 11:07 pm

I think upgrading from IQ to Trae would be pretty significant.....but I'm only doing that if they accept a cheap trade package (IQ/Dick/Ochai)

Trae is a poor defender but the same can be said about IQ because of his size so I think it's a wash.

Worst case scenario if Trae doesn't work out they don't have to re-sign him, that would clear up a lot of cap space and get them off IQ's contract.
User avatar
MEDIC
RealGM
Posts: 21,259
And1: 12,035
Joined: Jul 25, 2006

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#18 » by MEDIC » Wed Jan 7, 2026 11:08 pm

kalel123 wrote:
MEDIC wrote:That's a tough one.

AD is a no.

It would come down the Sabas & Trae.

I like the length of Sabonis contract. Fits our timeline. Its also managable. C position would be locked up. He would be one of the best C's we have had & I think he would be a fan fave. Kind of a Marc Gasol type.

I like.the Trae contract as well. Could give him a trial run & if it looks like it is not working, trade him as an expiring. Free up some money.

It really depends on what the Raps are giving up & getting in return.

Both Trae & Sabonis are similar options (offensive players with sus defense) but different positions.

Trae contract gives flexibility. Sabonis gives certainty.

This really comes down to Darko & how he envisions each of them fitting into his system.


I think it more likely if we get Trae Young, they probably look to do an extension right away similar to Ingram than try him out and let him potentially leave for nothing. And potential numbers in that situation kinda scares me knowing this team likes to overpay, which is half of why I want nothing to do with Young. The other half being he just sucks at playing winning basketball due to his lack of defense (one of the worst) and horrid shot selection.


That would be really stupid. They just made that mistake.

Trae is a risk. You don't offer an extension until you see that it is a good fit. At least try him out for the rest of the season before making financial decisions.

I can't imagine being saddled with 50 million for 4 years before deciding if it is worth it. I don't think Bobby or Rogers would do it.......but what do I know.
Image
* Props to the man, the myth, the legend......TZ.
User avatar
Brinbe
RealGM
Posts: 66,984
And1: 41,676
Joined: Feb 26, 2005
Location: Terana
         

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#19 » by Brinbe » Wed Jan 7, 2026 11:24 pm

Probably Sabonis. Perfect fit in Darko's offense, better fit for the timeline compared to AD and price tag to acquire probably won't be too crazy.

If AD were like two years younger it'd maybe make more sense but you'd be counting on so many things going right for that trade to work out when he's only gonna get older and more banged up. Trae isn't enough of an upgrade on IQ for it to be worth it. I think he's pretty overrated in terms of being a featured player on a contending team. Great playmaker, volume inefficient scorer and terrible defender. Not really a championship level player
Image
Raptors_South
Freshman
Posts: 97
And1: 112
Joined: Jul 16, 2020
         

Re: If you HAD to trade for one, who and why? 

Post#20 » by Raptors_South » Wed Jan 7, 2026 11:25 pm

I dont believe in AD; I think he's running on fumes. If that deal goes south, it will cripple the franchise. Neither Sabonis nor Trae can do that. In these scenarios, im almost more interested in what we give up than who we get. Im actually fine with either Trae or Sabonis, but ultimately I would love a small additional trade following any big splash just to reorient our roster.

Return to Toronto Raptors