3 Raptors assets that could be traded to Nets in Kevin Durant deal
By Mike Luciano
2. Draft picks from 2023 to 2029
Ujiri is unique in that he has managed to regularly trade for some impact names without sacrificing tons of their first-round picks. That will need to change if Durant is coming up north, as the Nets will try to recoup the picks they lost in the James Harden mistake.
After watching Gobert leave Utah and require four first-round picks in exchange (the maximum amount allowed in one transaction), the draft compensation will likely have to start there. Brooklyn may need to reserve the right to swap picks with Toronto for every other season in that span.
The Toronto Raptors will need to trade tons of draft picks.
Toronto has built a postseason contender via the draft, as Barnes is the only member of the starting lineup picked before pick No. 23 overall. Ujiri loves picks, especially premium ones, but he won’t get Durant unless he forks over control of his draft for a few years.
This will be incredibly risky, as it could blow up in their face with one moe unfortunate turn of Durant’s ankle. Still, if Toronto feels confident in their chances to win now with Durant, that’s a sacrifice that will have to be made.