The Toronto Raptors will need to look at every potential bend in order to find reinforcements that can help them in the postseason push, and Sacramento Kings wing Harrison Barnes might be the ideal player to give the Raptors some extra pop on the offensive end.
While the core of Tyrese Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox could help Sacramento break their playoff curse, the early returns under head coach Luke Walton have been extremely disheartening. The Kings’ loss against the Brooklyn Nets ruined their 12-11 start, as they have lost eight straight games.
With Fox signed long-term and Haliburton showing he will be an exceptional player in the future, everyone with a pulse should be mentioned in trade talks, as it could help the Kings jump-start their rebuild.
The Raptors might have a tough time getting a crack at Barnes, as the Boston Celtics have been snooping around with the hopes of trading for the former Tar Heel.
What will Harrison Barnes bring to the Raptors?
Barnes, a much-hyped recruit at North Carolina that was seventh overall in 2012 by the Golden State Warriors, saw his scoring productivity clipped down due to the fact he had to play a subservient role after the emergence of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.
After he proved he can be a quality secondary scorer by averaging 18.7 points per game with the Dallas Mavericks, Barnes ended up in Sacramento, where he is quietly playing some of the most efficient basketball of his career.
Barnes is scoring 15.9 points per game while making 39.5% of his threes this season. Barnes is setting new career-highs in shooting percentage (48.5%), rebounds per game (6.1), and assists per game (3.3).
While he isn’t the greatest defender, Barnes is a scorer in his prime that can play the 3 and 4 on both sides of the floor, finish close to the rim, and catch fire from deep. Toronto’s offense could be kicked into high gear if they trade for Barnes.
Sacramento won’t just give him up for nothing, however, meaning that Masai Ujiri and the front office will need to concoct an enticing offer in order to get the Kings interested. Both of these two proposals could get Barnes in Toronto.
Toronto Raptors trade idea No. 1: The Raptors give up some expiring contracts
Norman Powell has been reinvigorated since making the move to the starting lineup, but a potentially perilous contract situation could make it difficult for Toronto to bank on him being back in 2021. Making him the centerpiece of trade could help the Raptors find a replacement.
Barnes was at his best as a small forward in Dallas and Golden State, and Toronto could give him the freedom to play on the wing more. Getting Whiteside, who is averaging 8.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game due to his poor fit in Sacramento’s offense, and swapping out Baynes at the center position could help Toronto get some more size before the postseason.
Why would this trade work for the Raptors?
Trading Powell after his hot streak might seem like blasphemy, but he could become a free agent at the end of this season, while Barnes is under contract for the next two seasons. The 6-8 Barnes offers much more versatility on both ends than the 6-3 Powell, all the while giving the Raptors an equally skilled offensive option.
Baynes has proven to be a solid defensive center, but his offense has been putrid. Whiteside can provide rebounding and shot-blocking at exceptionally high levels, all the while showing enough to be trusted as a lob finisher and dunker at close range. This trade gets the Raptors a potential offensive star, while Sacramento gets a talented scorer, backup big, and draft pick in return.
Toronto Raptors trade idea No. 2: A three-team deal that nets the Raptors a pick
Trading Lowry is still a very real possibility, and the Raptors could recoup a first-round pick if they pull off this trade with Sacramento and Denver. Lowry would be Denver’s point guard as they look to compete in the West, while tertiary scorers Will Barton and Gary Harris would replace Barnes’ production with the Kings.
Toronto, meanwhile, would add an inside-out threat in Barnes and a veteran stretch big that can rise up from three in Bjelica. Toronto should insist on draft capital coming their way in any Lowry trade, and Denver could be enticed to part with a first-rounder in this deal.
Why would the Raptors do this trade?
Trading Lowry could be a painful Band-Aid to rip off, but this trade could send him to a contender in Denver that could start him at point guard while moving Jamal Murray to shooting guard. Being able to recoup a first-round pick from a Nuggets team that will have to compete in a crowded Western Conference could end up being a smashing success.
Toronto would get a 6-10 sharpshooter in Bjelica that has started to pick it up again after being exiled to the bench. With a 6-8, strong wing in Barnes lining up at the small forward spot, a lineup that puts VanVleet at point guard, Powell and Barnes at the wing, and the Anunoby-Siakam tag team down low, opposing coaches will be up all night trying to slow them down.