We’re almost there, Raptors supporters. It feels like we’ve been crawling to the trade deadline since we awoke on December 30th to learn that Toronto had made its first major move.
The deadline of 3 p.m. on Thursday is now only days away. We won’t wait any longer; let’s take a look at the Raptors’ predicament as we enter the final week of trades.
What Toronto Has Already Done
If you’ve just returned to Canada from a six-week, internet-free wilderness retreat, welcome back! The Raptors are nearly unrecognizable.
Here are all of Toronto’s moves in chronological order:
December 30th, Knicks:
Toronto sold O.G. Anunoby, Malachi Flynn, and Precious Achiuwa to the New York Knicks in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 second-round draft pick.
We mourned for nearly 48 hours before realizing that this trade benefited both parties. Barrett and Quickley have smoothly adapted to the Raptors’ new approach.
January 17th, Pacers:
The other shoe dropped less than three weeks later. Toronto sent Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, Kira Lewis Jr., and three first-round draft selections.
Two of the first-round picks are for 2024, while the third is for 2026.
Raptors supporters’ shouts can still be heard throughout the city, even weeks after the deal. Unfortunately essential, yet heartbreaking. More heartbreaking? Siakam will make his return to Toronto with the Pacers on Valentine’s Day.
Who is available for trade?
If your name is Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, or RJ Barrett, congratulations! You are safe this time.
Anyone else, don’t make any plans after Thursday because you could be traded before that.
Who Might Actually Be Traded?
The first name that springs to mind is Bruce Brown.
Yes, despite having only arrived in Toronto a few weeks ago and paying $10,000 to take Jontay Porter’s jersey number, Brown may be on his way out.
Our pal Bruce is an exceptional role player, as evidenced by his success in the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 NBA Championship run. Contending clubs are very interested in such depth as they approach the playoffs, and injuries become more common.
Last week, Marc Stein reported that the Raptors are looking for a first-round selection and a decent player in trade for Bruce Brown, who is 27 years old. If we look at the Raptors’ return tendencies this season, we can expect them to seek for someone young and promising.
Adrian Wojnarowski interviewed Bobby Marks for his show on Monday morning, and the two discussed the prospect of Toronto transferring Brown.
According to them, both the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in Bruce Brown. The Lakers attempted to sign Brown in free agency, but Indiana offered him a higher salary. Then they tried to trade him with Indiana, but he was moved to Toronto instead.
The Lakers will now make another try to sign Brown.
They will have to outdo the Knicks and give Masai Ujiri what he wants. Ujiri could easily hold Brown for the rest of the season while also trying to trade him closer to the draft.
Others are being thrown into talks.
While the Bruce Brown rumour is based on credible sources, everyone else on the Raptors roster is merely available throw-in stuff.
Consider Gary Trent Jr., who will be a popular free agent this summer, or Chris Boucher, who appears to be a holdover from the previous Raptors regime. Otto Porter Jr. has also been noticeably absent from Raptors lineups.
Given the Raptors’ lack of postseason success this season, any of these players could be traded this week.
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It will be over soon…
It feels like the Raptors have been in trade mode for months. In reality, it has been six weeks. In any case, everyone will sigh with relief at 3 p.m. on Thursday, when we can return to concentrate just on the game.
The players appear to agree, since games this week have been, to put it mildly, weird. Friday’s easy loss to the Houston Rockets revealed a club that appears to be losing steam with a third of the season yet to play. Sunday’s double overtime loss against Oklahoma City was more entertaining, but it was still sad not to win.
You can’t argue the team lacks a vision, though. That vision will be strengthened further once all of the final moves are accomplished this week.
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