The Toronto Raptors are expected to make flashy moves this offseason, and recent speculation suggests they are trying to get a third team involved.
The Toronto Raptors feel the Eastern Conference is open and are expected to have a flashy trade this offseason. The Raptors can add a variety of established talents, but they are linked to “big fish” like Giannis Antetocompo.
RJ Barrett is set to make $27.7 million next season and has been on a contract from 2026-27, making it an attractive asset for the Raptors sending trade possibilities.
But Toronto may be looping in the third franchise to hang Barrett from the rebuilding team and add a star.
To add victory talent from teams such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, the Raptors can offer Barrett, Jacob Puertre, Emmanuel Quickly, or draft picks.
However, in Durant’s hypothetical deal, the Suns revealed that they wanted a high-level victory talent in return. Toronto is unlikely to entertain Scotty Burns or Brandon Ingram’s deals, so it makes sense to loop with a third team.
The Portland Trail Blazers, who are about to build around young people Donovan Klingan, Scoot Henderson and Sheddon Sharp, can use external scoring punches, and Barrett certainly fits their timeline. According to Offshore Sportsbook Bovada, they are the favorites to land Barrett in trade this offseason.
The Blazers have several win-losing roles in books that can help teams like the Suns compete after trading Durant.
Durant did not list the Raptors as an ideal landing spot, but the Suns simply ship him to the highest bidder. The Raptors have a track record of trading players who have only one season left on their contract, and should win the title and allow the cores of Burns, Quickly, Ingram, Durant and Poertre to compete in the East.
Of course, “big fish” like Giannis are still there, but it’s the assumption that he will remain in Milwaukee until Antetocomo demands trade.
The Suns need defensive and off-ball players to complement Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, and Jerami Grant appears to be a solid option. Additionally, his contract is alongside Beal’s, giving Suns financial flexibility for the future.
The Raptors can offer Bullets, pick them up on the Trail Blazers, pick them up on the Suns, and get rerouting grants to Durant and the Suns. Of course, the Suns are a second-do-Polon team, so to balance the book, they will need to add other small pieces to the deal, but there is a way for the Raptor to do three-team deals.
The general framework outlined above works for many stars and if Toronto wants to make a surprise bid for another player, they certainly have the means to do it.