How the Raptors can help other teams at the trade deadline
The Toronto Raptors marked the beginning of the reconstruction last season when they traded both Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. The organization sits at 10-32 in the 2024-25 season, which is second to last in the Eastern Conference. The reconstruction is definitely in full force and to come NBA trade deadlineseems to be the front office asks to make some jobs.
Via Jake Fisher:
“The Toronto Raptors, according to league sources, have also indicated a willingness to grease deals around the NBA ahead of this upcoming trade deadline,” Fisher wrote in a guest post on Marc Stein’s Substack.
As Fisher noted, the Raptors have $10.1 million in cap space, meaning they have plenty of flexibility to adjust salaries in any potential trades before Feb. 6.
“They’re in as good a position as anyone to facilitate a trade,” one Eastern Conference executive said of the Raptors, according to Stein. “If a team needs to send four players to make the math work, do you send one to Toronto?”
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While Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett appear to be the building blocks for Toronto, there are three players in particular who could be included in any potential trade – Chris Boucher, Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown. Olynyk is reportedly one of several big players around the league who could be available via trade.
The Raptors waived Bruno Fernando in early January, opening up a roster spot. They also have more than $42 million in contracts that expire before this summer, which could be attractive to other organizations around the league.
Brown, for example, has a $23 million contract expiring. Although he is a solid player, Brown could be a good addition for many teams. We’ve seen the impact he’s had in the past with clubs like the Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets.
It will be interesting to see what the Raptors do in the coming weeks.
2025-01-20 23:00:00
