The Toronto Raptors stand at a familiar crossroads. After finishing the 2024-25 season with a 30-52 record and missing the playoffs for the third straight year, the franchise is searching for its next defining move.
The midseason blockbuster to acquire Brandon Ingram signaled that Toronto isn’t content to rebuild slowly around Scottie Barnes, who continues to blossom into a franchise cornerstone. Now, with Kevin Durant’s time in Phoenix looking increasingly shaky after another late-season flameout, the Raptors could make their boldest play yet, going all-in for the former MVP and creating a Big Three capable of shaking up the Eastern Conference.
Much like their audacious gamble in 2019 when they traded for Kawhi Leonard and won their first championship, Masai Ujiri and the front office have the draft capital, young talent, and recent history to justify swinging big again. With Kevin Durant turning 37 but still among the league’s elite scorers, this could be Toronto’s chance to vault back into contention and perhaps rewrite NBA history once more.
Proposed Trade Details
Toronto Raptors Receive: Kevin Durant, Oso Ighodaro
Phoenix Suns Receive: Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, 2028 First-Round Pick (TOR)
Raptors Have The Best Big Three In The East
Let’s call it what it is: frightening. A trio of Kevin Durant, Scottie Barnes, and Brandon Ingram would instantly vault the Raptors from Eastern Conference afterthoughts to legitimate contenders. Durant may be 36 going on 37, but he’s still producing at an elite clip.
This season in Phoenix, he put up 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on a pristine 52.7% shooting from the field and 43.0% from deep. Pair that scoring machine with Ingram, who just averaged 22.2 points and 5.2 assists before and after arriving in Toronto midseason, and Barnes, who blossomed into a two-way monster with 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per night.
Suddenly, the Raptors have length, skill, and scoring at every wing spot, forming a Big Three that can hang with Boston’s Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown-Kristaps Porzingis trio or Jalen Brunson-Karl-Anthony Towns-Mikal Bridges trio in New York.
Durant also fits perfectly with Toronto’s timeline. While Barnes is only 23 and Ingram is 27, KD gives this team an immediate “win-now” engine, something that Barnes, despite his leap, can’t quite do alone yet.
And let’s not forget: Durant’s playoff resume is glittering, with two Finals MVPs and a history of rising in the biggest moments. Toronto’s offense, which ranked bottom five this past season (25th, 110.5 offensive rating), desperately needs his efficient shot-making to unlock new levels. Throw in Oso Ighodaro (4.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG in 61 appearances), a 6’10” rookie big man with real defensive promise, and the Raptors even get a developmental piece in the deal.
But most importantly, this trade signals that Toronto is done playing it safe. Just like 2019, when they rolled the dice on Kawhi Leonard and got a parade out of it, this move screams going all-in. With Barnes running point-forward duties, Ingram attacking as a secondary scorer, and Durant spacing the floor and closing games, this trio would instantly become the scariest wing combo in the East.
Phoenix Recoup Lost Assets And Start New Era
For the Suns, this is about cutting their losses and retooling before things spiral even further. Phoenix went all-in on the Durant trade back in 2023, giving up Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and a mountain of picks, but after missing the playoffs this year and rising tensions, it’s clear the KD era hasn’t delivered the title they envisioned.
In this deal, the Suns finally restock their asset cabinet while picking up two young, proven starters in Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, both of whom are under 26 years old and entering their primes. Quickley just posted a career-best year, averaging 17.1 points and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 37.8% from deep, numbers that suggest he’s ready to take over as a full-time lead guard.
RJ Barrett, meanwhile, looked rejuvenated after his move to Toronto this season, bumping his scoring to 21.1 points per game on 46.8% shooting in his Raptors stint. He brings the physicality and slashing ability that Phoenix has sorely missed on the wing, especially with their overreliance on mid-range jumpers from Durant and Devin Booker.
Together, Barrett and Quickley give Phoenix a young, dynamic backcourt duo that could better complement Booker and allow the Suns to rediscover a more balanced offensive identity. And that 2028 first-round pick from Toronto? It could be gold, especially as Durant ages and the Raptors’ window tightens.
Yes, Suns fans will mourn the end of the Durant experiment, but the truth is it’s time. Phoenix lacks depth, flexibility, and future picks; they need to get younger and cheaper while staying competitive. With Booker still in his prime, and Barrett/Quickley providing immediate scoring punch, the Suns can stay relevant in the West while also setting themselves up for a new era beyond the failed superteam approach.
A Blockbuster Trade That Puts Raptors Back On The Map, Similar To 2019
History has a funny way of repeating itself in Toronto. Back in 2019, the Raptors shocked the league by flipping franchise favorite DeMar DeRozan for an uncertain, injured Kawhi Leonard. The move was risky, but it paid off with a championship, the franchise’s only banner.
Fast forward to 2025, and Masai Ujiri could be cooking up another version of that same gamble: Durant may not be in his prime, but his scoring genius and championship pedigree offer Toronto a similar one-to-two-year title window. And after years in the wilderness, Raptors fans are starved for relevance again.
This trade would immediately put Toronto back in every national conversation. Suddenly, Barnes-Durant-Ingram would be mentioned alongside Boston, Milwaukee, and New York as the East’s elite. TV ratings would spike, Scotiabank Arena would sell out every night, and opposing teams would circle Toronto on their calendars again.
