The Toronto Raptors are reportedly considering a bold swing for Kevin Durant—one that eerily echoes their 2018 gamble on Kawhi Leonard. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Toronto is one of the teams “willing to gamble” on Durant despite him having just one year left on his deal worth around $55 million.
“What you’re hearing now on Kevin Durant, there are teams out there that are saying, you know what, we know he’s only under contract for one more year at about 55 million. We’re willing to gamble on him.”
“And the Toronto Raptors are one of those teams. And the Toronto Raptors have already done this. They’ve already gambled on a Hall-of-Fame-bound forward who had one year left on his deal, traded for Kawhi Leonard, won a championship, and immediately lost Kawhi Leonard.”
The Kawhi trade became one of the most iconic moves in modern NBA history. At the time, the Raptors were an elite regular-season team but playoff underachievers, repeatedly running into LeBron James in the East.
When the Raptors shipped DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio for Leonard, it shocked the league. But the result was undeniable: a championship and a legacy-defining run.
This time, things are a little different. The Raptors aren’t a Finals-ready team right now, but they might be closer than it appears. The franchise already made a surprising splash by trading for Brandon Ingram midseason.
Scottie Barnes continues to blossom into a legitimate star, and the Canadian duo of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley has given Toronto much-needed backcourt punch. If Masai Ujiri is willing to package one or more of those assets, perhaps Barrett and future picks, a Durant trade might be within reach.
Of course, Toronto is far from the only team in the race. The Minnesota Timberwolves are now considered the frontrunners to land Durant, according to multiple reports.
A week ago, the Spurs were believed to have a handshake deal with Durant, but that momentum has shifted fast. Shams Charania confirmed that Minnesota, Houston, and Miami are the most serious suitors, with Minnesota being the most aggressive.
Still, Toronto’s candidacy shouldn’t be dismissed. Durant’s value is unique—at 36, he remains one of the most devastating scorers in the league, averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists this past season on elite shooting splits: 52.7% from the field and 43% from deep. Even as the Suns finished a disastrous 36–46 and missed the play-in, Durant was the lone constant. Without him, Phoenix went 3–17.
For Toronto, the pitch is simple: go all in for one year. Even if Durant walks next summer, it’s the same risk they took with Kawhi. They’ve proven before that they can make that gamble work. The difference now is that their roster is younger and more flexible.
With Scottie Barnes as the centerpiece and Ingram as a proven All-Star, adding Durant could vault the Raptors right back into the contender conversation in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
The Timberwolves, Rockets, and Heat all offer different levels of assets. Minnesota could pair Durant with Anthony Edwards for a devastating one-two punch. Houston could go all-in with its stockpile of young stars. But none of them have done what the Raptors have: take a one-year superstar rental and cash it in for a banner.
Durant might be the next chapter in Toronto’s championship story or another high-risk swing. Either way, don’t count the Raptors out. They’ve played this hand before, and they know how to win with it.
