The NBA trade season is here, and players everywhere are bracing for what is sure to be a wild summer. In Toronto, Raptors swingman RJ Barrett finds himself at the center of rumors once again as his basketball future grows increasingly unstable.
With another two years and $57 million left on his contract, Barrett isn’t up for free agency, but the Raptors feel like they need a change after finishing 11th in the standings. By trading Barrett, they could get back a solid return that will help them continue their rebuild. One potential deal could go as follows:
Proposed Trade Scenario
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: RJ Barrett, 2028 second-round pick
Toronto Raptors Receive: Deni Avdija, Matisse Thybulle, 2031 first-round pick
Here, the Trail Blazers can get Barrett without giving up any major pieces of their young core. After recently parting with Anfernee Simons, Portland is already set for some growing pains as Jrue Holiday steps in (reluctantly) to take over the position.
With Barrett, the Blazers would finally have some depth on the wing, a position they’ve lacked for years. While Barrett is not an A-tier superstar, he still has amazing potential as a six-year veteran with averages of 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game on 44.1% shooting.
His defense, size, and competitive fire would make him a great fit with Chauncey Billups’ old-school coaching style, and he’s sure to earn minutes alongside his undersized teammates like Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. A future first-round pick is a lot to give up for the Trail Blazers, but in exchange for someone like Barrett, a young swingman who can take them to the next level, it might be worth every penny.
The Raptors will have no shortage of suitors for Barrett, but they could do worse than this package from Portland, which gives them two solid young pieces to go along with a first-round pick. The first is Deni Avdija, a solid perimeter player who had a stellar campaign for the Blazers last season with averages of 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game on 47.6% shooting.
There’s also defensive phenom Matisse Thybulle, who is notorious for his quick hands and impressive shot-blocking ability. His streaky shooting has been a problem at times, but a fresh start may be what he needs to find a rhythm and prove himself as one of the NBA’s premier two-way players.
That 2031 first-round pick will not be given up easily by Portland, but they are hoping to be a contender by then, which would put the pick lower in the first round. Regardless, it was one of their best remaining trade assets after years of changes, and many fans felt they put it to good use.
Whether you love or hate the deal, you have to admit it’s a win for the Blazers, who get to lean on RJ Barrett, Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant, and Donovan Clingan for the foreseeable future.
The Raptors would not get closer to their goal of winning a title, but offloading Barrett could be what makes room for others to shine (like Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram). At the very least, they must consider moving him if it gets them the kind of haul that can restore some hope for the franchise.
