The Toronto Raptors trading beloved star DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard in the 2018 offseason signaled that this is a franchise that doesn’t shy away from making blockbuster deals. With Kevin Durant expressing his desire to be traded, it appears that Masai Ujiri can add yet another league-altering trade to his resume.
The KD era in Brooklyn was a roller coaster of emotions. This is thanks to the uncertainty of Kyrie Irving (still ongoing), James Harden lasting just over a year as a Net, a toe on the line in Game 7, and most recently getting swept in the first round by Boston.
Enter Toronto. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski called the Raptors “a team lurking” in the Durant sweepstakes, and from a distance, it’s not hard to see why. That would be one heck of a difference-maker in what has already become an incredibly stacked conference.
The Raptors are one of the few contenders that have control of all their future first-rounders, as well as a good mix of young assets and All-Star caliber players that could be used in a potential deal. Will Toronto actually get this deal done?
Should the Toronto Raptors want to acquire Kevin Durant?
A full-on rebuild was once seen as a viable possibility following the season in Tampa, but that has been thrown out the window at this point. There’s no doubt that the Raptors are going up, but are they content with just riding it out and continuing development?
Ujiri acknowledged the importance of development and patience, especially when you have a team as young as the Raptors, but this was said months before Durant requested a trade. Circumstances, and Toronto’s status on a trade of this magnitude, have changed.
Adding the 12-time All-Star, albeit losing multiple players thought to be long-term building blocks in a trade, would accelerate the Raptors from playoff contenders to championship contenders in just one offseason. However, Durant comes with his fair share of red flags.
The case for trading for Kevin Durant
Adding a Durant still in his prime, who is also under contract for the next four seasons? Sign us up! As good as this Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet-led core has been, is it really enough to bring home the ultimate goal of the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the next few seasons?
When the Raptors made the trade for Leonard four years ago, many across the league said Toronto was foolish for making this move. Even though the Leonard era lasted just a season, the Raptors walked out as the clear winners of the trade with an NBA championship.
You simply need at least a superstar in this era to compete for a ring, and Durant certainly fits the bill. No matter what the Raptors possibly give up in a trade, if it ends up rewarding them with a championship (possibly more than one), Toronto walks out as clear winners of the trade.
Kevin Durant would be a phenomenal fit in Toronto.
The Raptors’ interest in building a roster full of lengthy wings might be the worst-kept secret in the NBA. Standing at 6-10 (which is VERY conservative), Durant fits in perfectly into this Raptors lineup. Although he isn’t an All-Defensive caliber player that the Raptors love, he’s certainly capable of holding his own on that end of the floor.
When you’re trading for arguably the greatest pure scorer of the last 20 years, defense should be the last thing on your mind. Not only would Durant fill that go-to option void immediately if Toronto mortgages the future for him, but he could form one of the game’s best 1-2 punches in recent memory with Siakam.
The case against trading for Kevin Durant
Durant is absolutely still in his prime, but he’s played just 90 games in the last three seasons. With him turning 34 before the beginning of next season, it would be wise to assume that this trend of missing games would only continue as he ages.
A trade return for Durant would be massive, even with all the potential concerns that come with him. As said earlier, the trade would be worth it for Toronto if they come on top at least once.
Unfortunately, you can’t just assume you’ll win a championship, especially when it comes to Durant’s career. He was paired with a significant amount of talent in Oklahoma City, but he never managed to bring home a ring. Will Durant at this age be more effective in the postseason than 24-year-old Durant?
A trade for Kevin Durant would gut the Toronto Raptors.
The Timberwolves trading four future first-rounders for Rudy Gobert certainly raises Durant’s already high asking price. If the Raptors had to part ways with just Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, and a record amount of draft capital, Ujiri would probably send it into the league office before the Nets could pull out.
Pairing Durant with Scottie Barnes, VanVleet, and Siakam would be a dream come true.
However, with the amount of interest Durant will have around the league, the Nets would likely demand Rookie of the Year Barnes to be a part of the deal, and who could blame them?
The Nets have all the leverage with Durant having four years left and a no-trade clause. If you are Toronto, is parting ways with a potential superstar in Barnes, along with Anunoby, Trent, and multiple picks, worth maybe that short stint of KD magic?