As the Kevin Durant sweepstakes rage on, the Toronto Raptors continue to insert themselves into the conversation. Excluded from Durant’s short list of preferred destinations, the Raptors aren’t considered the favorites to sign the 33-year-old star, but they are a team to keep an eye on as the situation becomes more and more complicated.
In the most recent update on the saga, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski dropped a major truth bomb that only further validates Toronto’s chances of acquiring Durant.
Here’s what he said:
”The most seemless trade for Brooklyn is with Toronto. That’s the least complicated deal and people should keep watching as the Raptors stay involved in these conversations.”
Woj says the Nets are not in a rush and doesn't believe any trade is imminent. Also: ''The most seemless trade for Brooklyn is with Toronto. That's the least complicated deal and people should keep watching as the Raptors stay involved in these conversations.'' #KevinDurant
— Alex Seixeiro (@AlexSeixeiro) July 5, 2022
The Raptors are one of the few teams that have the assets to pull off a deal. Whether it’s a package centered around Pascal Siakam or Scottie Barnes, they have more than enough to offer the Nets in exchange for one of the best players in the game.
Their best package could include five players and four draft picks.
Toronto Raptors Receive: Kevin Durant, 2028 First-Round Pick Swap (Favoring Nets)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent Jr., Precious Achiuwa, Khem Birch, Malachi Flynn, 2023 First-Round Pick, 2025 First-Round Pick, 2027 First-Round Pick, 2029 First-Round Pick, 2028 First-Round Pick Swap (Favoring Nets)
The Toronto Raptors have multiple capable players that they can offer in a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, players that could help them avoid a tank while also being young enough to be part of the Nets teams of the future.
Scottie Barnes is definitely a tough player to lose, but when getting a top-5 player like Kevin Durant for the Toronto Raptors, all options should be on the table. The potential of getting a championship would be worth it for the Toronto Raptors, but we’ll have to wait to see how this situation unfolds.
Any other franchise in the league (except maybe the Warriors) would have to involve a third or fourth team to land Durant, which is never an easy thing to do. The Raptors could pull it off all on their own, which is why they keep getting brought up in Durant talks.
The truth is, Toronto has the easiest path to landing one of the NBA’s most elite players, and you can bet that Masai Ujiri isn’t taking that lightly.
