The Raptors were repeatedly tied to big-name trade candidates this offseason, rumored to be possible suitors for Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, and Kevin Durant. Toronto ended up having a relatively quiet summer, making only minor tweaks to its roster, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca, who says the club is counting on internal growth from its own players, including Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes.
Still, while the Raptors didn’t take a big swing in the last few months, that doesn’t mean they’re not willing to make a major trade at some point to move closer to title contention. A league source tells Lewenberg that one situation the Raptors are “closely monitoring” is in Oklahoma City, in case Thunder star and Toronto native Shai Gilgeous-Alexander eventually seeks a change of scenery.
The Thunder have only won a total of 46 games in the last two seasons and appear headed for another lottery finish in 2022/23, but there’s no indication Gilgeous-Alexander is seeking an exit ramp out of town. He said this week that he knew what he was getting into when he signed a five-year extension with OKC a year ago and that he doesn’t think the team will keep losing for much longer.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- When he became a free agent and was weighing his options this summer, Otto Porter Jr. got in touch with forward Thaddeus Young to seek his opinion on Toronto, tweets Lewenberg. Young helped convince his former Bulls teammate to sign with the Raptors. “He’s one of my better friends in the league,” Young said. “He asked me questions and I said, ‘Come on through, sign the deal and let’s go.'”
- Head coach Doc Rivers is pleased with the moves the Sixers‘ front office made this offseason, telling reporters this week that the team addressed the holes it was hoping to fill. “We had a targeted summer, and we hit pretty much what we’re looking for,” Rivers said, per Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “… We have to learn how to become a team first, and if we do that, I love who we are.”
- Center Isaiah Hartenstein explained on Tuesday that he signed with the Knicks as a free agent this summer because they made him feel “wanted” and because he believes his ability to shoot and make plays from the center position will add a new dimension to the team. “I felt like I can bring something that they didn’t have, to help them win,” Hartenstein said, according to Zach Braziller of The New York Post.
SGA not goin nowhere but I would love to see them trade OG for a pg & go after Wiggins next summer
thank god you’re not a gm
What do you propose they do?
Not trade OG for a PG and chase Wiggins next offseason
I don’t think SGA is going anywhere either. I would like to see something like
ATL: OG
TOR: SGA
OKC: via ATL – Sacramento Pick from Huerter trade, Deandre Hunter, Jaylen Johnson, bunch of random weird 2s, via Toronto 23, 25, 27
So basically ATL is getting OG for the Sac pick, Johnson and Hunter, some 2s (doesn’t seem like enough to get OG so some swaps maybe, Griffin maybe, Holiday as salary filler.
Toronto is getting SGA for OG, 23, 25 and 27.
Atlanta and Toronto counter Clevelands Mitchell play. ATL likely has to give up more for OG now that I think about it. Trae, Murray, OG, Collins, Capela with Bogi and Okongwu has to he one of the deadliest big 7s in the League.
Toronto with SGA (perfect FVV compliment) FVV, GTJr, Barnes, Pascal, Prescious, Boucher, Khem, Thad, Porter, Flynn, Banton, Kokomo, WTF
It’s time for OKC to move SGA.
Is SGA a product of being a stats guy on an awful team???
He does get injured … A lot!
Neither him nor Josh Giddey shoot it well enough to become a potent duo. Keep Giddey and get a shooter to put next to him.
The Knicks love Kentucky guys! I kinda like R.J. Barrett for OKC. Nice defensive compliment on perimeter for Chet Holmgren. Barrett would relish being a go-to guy for a franchise.
An aggressively bad list of thoughts
Yeah he is the go to guy ….. next
Lol I wouldn’t trade Dre for OG straight up. You tweakin
You are the one on drugs if you think Hunter is better than OG. Let’s compare first three years in the league, OG>Hunter and it’s not even close, WS OG-10.7 Hunter-2.9, VORP OG-2.1 Hunter-(-1.6) negative value over replacement, PER OG-11.3 Hunter-10.5, TS% OG-.579 Hunter-.545, dws OG-7.0 Hunter-2.9, DPM OG-1.0 Hunter-(-1.3)…I could go on, but at the same point in their respective careers OG far better than Hunter and will probably have a more team friendly contract as well. Now let’s look at last season, both age 24 season…more of the same OG > Hunter. Stop talking down to people coz you can’t get over your favorite team bias
Who’s alt is this? Lol I can’t keep up
No alt playboy…one and only account. I don’t need to hide
Also, interesting how you have no retort
I agree so far OG has shown more. I like them both. I think OG is more versatile.
I look at it as Hunter is about to be paid as much or more than OG next summer yet isn’t as good. So it’s a clear upgrade for a very similar player if they make the same amount. OG is better on offense and defense. I mean both are injury prone, but besides that OG has slightly better everything :measurables, offense, defense, potential, primacy, positional versatility.
Similar guys both young and a lot to prove but OG is the clearly better player. Plus ATL management isn’t to fond of Hunter from the outside looking in, imo. Just like with Huerter, they have picked Reddish, Johnson and Griffin since they picked Hunter.
Pretty sure OKC isn’t moving SGA for one first and a bunch of seconds, with what amounts to salary filler alongside.
SGA not staying in OKC. They are a long way from winning. He’s better to them as a trade asset.
Hartenstein is a good signing. With Mitch Knicks are strong at Center position. I think he will fit well.
Funny but Knicks had best FA signings in 2022. Jalen Brunson, Isaiah Hartenstein. And nobody talks about that. Two rotation guys. One starter about to blow up. And we still have ALL our picks. Next move coming !!
Stay Tuned …..
If knicks can’t see that Opi Toppin has a ways to go but is still far and away better and more impactful and effective towards winning than Julius Randle… then they don’t deserve to win. Stats, advanced metrics and the eye test all say it’s time to move Randle and insert Toppin… Randle reminds me of Russel Westbrook the way his stats look so cute on the surface but the players style and abilities becomes a liability with 2 minutes to go in a tight game
Knicks have a dude like this on their current roster, RJ Barrett.
SGA is good, but he’s inconsistent with health and shooting. Honestly, I’d keep him unless you get a DM type of package back. And Toronto should want a better shooting combo guard if they were to pursue someone via trade.