Raptors Discussion: v97 Raptor's 2024-2025 - Training camp begins Oct. 1

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Opinion | The Raptors’ best shot at Kevin Durant starts with Scottie Barnes. Make the call, Masai

Barnes may be great, but Durant is great, and the chance to grab the brass ring now is far better than hoping you can grab it in two or three years.

www.thestar.com

Now, it’s impossible to guess what Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks and owner Joe Tsai would want in return for a generational talent such as Durant, but every team — Toronto included — should be looking for ways to create a package the Nets can’t turn down.

Durant is a 33-year-old former MVP, an NBA champion, one of the top five players in the game today and would certainly be on a list of the best players of all time. He immediately makes whatever team he’s on a legitimate championship contender.

It may be pie-in-the-sky thinking that Toronto would have a shot, but there are packages that vice-chair Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster could put together that might cause Brooklyn to at least pay attention.

The centrepiece would have to be NBA rookie of the year Scottie Barnes. If the Nets want to talk seriously, Ujiri and Webster should engage.

Yes, Barnes had a delightful first season. He’s a versatile player who seems to embody where the game is going, but trading promising talent for proven ability always makes the most sense.

There are two main reasons why teams acquire good young players: to develop them into better players, or move them in exchange for proven entities.

Barnes may be great, but Durant is great, and the chance to grab the brass ring now is far better than hoping you can grab it in two or three years.

The rest of a Raptors package would most certainly have to include two other very good players from among OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet.

Toss in five or six draft picks or pick swaps — that’s the kind of haul the Nets will want — and it would be an unprecedented transaction.

That makes sense, because Durant is an unprecedented prize.

Barnes, Anunoby, a couple of supplemental players and as many draft picks as the Nets want might be a good starting point.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

Now is not the time. Pass on KD. Keep building around Barnes, Siakam, and OG. Swing next year in FA

 

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NBA Free Agency Blog Kevin Durant Toronto Raptors | TSN

NBA Free Agency has officially opened as teams can negotiate with players who are not under contract. Stay up to date on the latest around the league right here on TSN.ca.

www.tsn.ca

Raptors in on Durant?

The Toronto Raptors may be players in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.

"I believe Toronto thinks it's in the game on Kevin Durant," Bontemps said on The Hoop Collective.



Bontemps says that although Raptors' President Masai Ujiri was willing to go all-in on a Kawhi Leonard trade, the price for Durant will be much higher than the price for Leonard. The Raptors acquired Leonard for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a first-round pick.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst added that the Nets are seeking multiple under-25 all-stars in any Durant trade.

Adrian Wojnarowski said on Friday's edition of NBA Today that the Raptors are 'lurking' in the Durant trade discussions, as the club has the type of young pieces and draft picks to put together an attractive package for Durant.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Barnes may be great, but Durant is great, and the chance to grab the brass ring now is far better than hoping you can grab it in two or three years.

The rest of a Raptors package would most certainly have to include two other very good players from among OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet.

Toss in five or six draft picks or pick swaps — that’s the kind of haul the Nets will want — and it would be an unprecedented transaction.

That makes sense, because Durant is an unprecedented prize.

LOL at these writers. Anyone who thinks it "makes sense" to trade Barnes AND two of Siakam/OG/FVV AND 5/6 picks for a 34 year old player with Durant's injury issues ought to have their have their head examined.

 

[TMLAM34]

I wouldn’t include Barnes in any KD deal. OG, Siakam and multiple picks/pick swaps sure.

 

[al secord]

All Raptors' rumors coming from external sources. Masai and Bobby run a tight lipped ship.

 

[Woodman19]

This all seems dumb to me. The Raptors are probably the only team with the depth of young players, top end roster pieces and draft picks to make the deal, no one else really has that combination so why would we be bidding against ourselves? This is just the Media seeing us having what the Nets wants and assume its our job to restock the American franchise.

 

[DuklaNation]

The rumours around Raps are to drive up the price for other teams. People are overvaluing KD at this point who will be 34 at start of next season, so by playoffs year 2, he will be 35.5. You got major injury and decline risk. At best, you'd hope for 2 productive seasons. But those last 2 could be complete sunk costs. THis is a more interesting proposal if KD was 30 or even 32 maybe. The rumoured offers from US media are delusional. Only a handful of teams can actually make it work for an approximation of the proposed value.

If I'm Brooklyn, dump KD & Irving for as much youth/picks as possible. Surround Simmons with young and hungry players, and then trade him after his value has been repaired somewhat. It will hurt that your own picks will be high but I think its unavoidable at this stage. Cut your losses is never a bad strategy and they need to do it now. Never let the inmates run the asylum, management 101.

 

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The Raptors don't get Kevin Durant without Scottie Barnes - Zach Lowe | NBA Today

July 1, 2022

NBA on ESPN

Zach Lowe, Kendrick Perkins, Richard Jefferson and Tim Legler discuss whether the Toronto Raptors is a comparable trade destination for Kevin Durant.



Toronto Raptors are the WILD CARD in this kids! - Bobby Marks | NBA on ESPN

July 3, 2022

ESPN

Bobby Marks discusses how the Toronto Raptors could play a big role in the futures of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

 

[Dr.Funk]

“Kevin Durant's agent informed President Masai Ujiri that he his committed to winning a championship and fulfilling his 4 year contract if traded to the Raptors, but Scottie Barnes/Pascal Siakam and FVV must remain on the team."

OG, Trent Jr. & Khem Birch get the salary matched up.

Probably looking at 3 or 4 firsts and 2 pick swaps.

I'm actually ok with giving those players but all those picks that's really tough.

 

[Stephen]

The Scottie Barnes angle only makes sense from external sources. Teams like the Nets, have really sold the farm over the past few years and they think Toronto is a good mark for passing on that superstar Ponzi scheme. For this to make sense for the Raptors we need to walk away with Barnes AND Durant. Otherwise, what's the point?

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Gary Nylund]

OG, Trent Jr. & Khem Birch get the salary matched up.

Probably looking at 3 or 4 firsts and 2 pick swaps.

I'm actually ok with giving those players but all those picks that's really tough.

Haha that's cool. Masai can tell them we gee whiz guys, I'd maybe give you guys Barnes and Pascal but Kevin just won't let me do it.

If it's OG, Trent jr, Birch and a bunch of picks, I'm not sure how you could say no to that TBH. If Durant stays healthy, we could win it all a couple of times in the next 3 years so really, how do you say no to that?.

The Scottie Barnes angle only makes sense from external sources. Teams like the Nets, have really sold the farm over the past few years and they think Toronto is a good mark for passing on that superstar Ponzi scheme. For this to make sense for the Raptors we need to walk away with Barnes AND Durant. Otherwise, what's the point?

 

[stickty111]

OG, Trent Jr. & Khem Birch get the salary matched up.

Probably looking at 3 or 4 firsts and 2 pick swaps.

I'm actually ok with giving those players but all those picks that's really tough.

You have to do it IMO

 

[Emerica]

Yeah, all this Scottie Barnes talk is coming from national analysts. Makes no sense whatsoever from a Raps perspective to trade away 20yo roty Scottie for 34yo KD.

Also, Raptors shouldn't be bidding against themselves. Who else can put up a better package than OG, Trent Jr and multiple firsts? N.O. maybe?

 

[stickty111]

Yeah, all this Scottie Barnes talk is coming from national analysts. Makes no sense whatsoever from a Raps perspective to trade away 20yo roty Scottie for 34yo KD.

Also, Raptors shouldn't be bidding against themselves. Who else can put up a better package than OG, Trent Jr and multiple firsts? N.O. maybe?

Without requiring moving pieces, NO is the only one really.

 

[Woodman19]

It's like trying to bid for a house while you have $2 million and everyone else has $1 million. You don't need to spend anywhere close to $2 to win since no one else is in that range.

 

[Gary Nylund]

It's like trying to bid for a house while you have $2 million and everyone else has $1 million. You don't need to spend anywhere close to $2 to win since no one else is in that range.

Especially when realistically speaking, the house is worth at most 1.2 million.

 

[phillipmike]

 

[TMLAM34]

Like previously mentioned, if you can acquire KD with OG, Siakam and draft picks sure. Ideally we sign Bryant regardless of what happens with KD.

VanVleet - Trent Jr - Barnes - Durant - Bryant

Or

VanVleet - Trent Jr - Barnes - Siakam - Bryant
OG 6th man

Trent Jr might be more ideal as the 6th man but we also need some shooting in the starting line up

 

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