Toronto Raptors: 3 most untradeable players on the current roster

The Toronto Raptors made some big subtractions from the equation in preparation for the 2021 season, as the loss of Kyle Lowry and a handful of bench contributors may take some time to overcome. All of this turmoil has some speculating that Toronto will spend another season down in the dumps of the East.

While even Masai Ujiri has tried his hardest to warn fans that the beginning of this season could be a bumpy ride, both he and GM Bobby Webster seem committed to a core of Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby for the next few seasons and beyond. That hasn’t stopped teams from trying to vulture away players like Siakam.

Despite teams like the Warriors, Clippers, and Kings all trying to make a run at Siakam, Toronto has remained steadfast in their desire to keep Siakam in town for as long as possible. With three years and nine figures left on his deal, it will be hard to offload such a tremendous contract.

Not only are the Raptors likely going to hold on to Siakam for 2021 and beyond, but it will be very hard to envision a scenario in which Toronto parts ways with one of these franchise cornerstones in the middle of the season.

The 3 most untradeable players on the Toronto Raptors roster.

3. PG Fred VanVleet

VanVleet bet on himself, and he parlayed his success early in his career into a four-year, $85 million contract last offseason. VanVleet’s contract served as a sign that even with the Lowry era in Toronto officially over, the organization views him as the best way to replace his production on the court and leadership off of it.

VanVleet might not have had the best shooting percentages last year, but it’s hard to find too much fault with 19.6 points and 6.3 assists per game while providing elite defense. Plenty of teams would want a player like VanVleet, but it’ll be hard for Toronto to part with him.

The Raptors will likely hold on to Fred VanVleet.

The only conceivable way that Toronto would part with VanVleet is if Ujiri starts to eschew a slow build in favor of trading for. superstar. Outside of that specific scenario becoming reality, which isn’t looking likely, expect No. 23 to remain in Toronto for the next few seasons.

Malachi Flynn and Scottie Barnes both figure to dominate the ball plenty in the next few years, but the Raptors wouldn’t give VanVleet that type of money if they didn’t believe he was capable of leading the team in the first few rocky seasons without Lowry. Let’s see what the offense looks like with VanVleet running the show for 82 games.