The Toronto Raptors are likely done making big moves at this point in the offseason, even with the hypothetical Kevin Durant game-changer hovering over them. If they end up moving back into the trade realm, the San Antonio Spurs might be willing to indulge them given their direction.
The trade of Dejounte Murray has signaled that San Antonio is completely bottoming out. With Victor Wembanyama dominating the top of the 2023 NBA Draft and hyped recruit GG Jackson reclassifying to this year’s draft class, the Spurs have their eyes set on one of these stars.
With San Antonio clearly trying to snag an elite youngster, some of the veterans or youngsters that are not going to get tons of playing time could be offloaded in a trade. The Raptors are still working the phones, and RC Buford may be willing to plop a future role player in their hands.
With the Spurs leaning on their young core of Keldon Johnson and Joshua Primo for the next few seasons, the Raptors would do well to at least check in with the same folks who helped facilitate the Thad Young trade. It’s not unrealistic that one of these three players may end up in Toronto.
3 Spurs players the Toronto Raptors could trade for.
3. SG Romeo Langford
Langford’s development was stunted from the beginning. Drafted 14th overall by a loaded Celtics team who didn’t have any spots in the rotation for him, Langford started just 11 games in three seasons with Boston. After moving to San Antonio, injuries limited him to four games.
Langford has struggled with being an efficient scorer when he has been healthy, as proven by his career 40% success rate from the field. Even with those concerns, Langford could be an excellent buy-low candidate that Toronto adds at a minimal cost to them.
Romeo Langford could turn around with the Toronto Raptors.
While he wasn’t the best 3-point shooter at Indiana, Langford was a feared slasher that could fly in and contort himself to impossible angles at the rim. Still just 22 and blocked by names like Primo, Malaki Branham, and Devin Vassell in San Antonio, Langford needs to go somewhere where he is believed in.
Langford could be acquired for another player at the end of the bench and a distant second-round pick. Sometimes, the right environment works wonders for a young player. Langford may need some lessons from the Nick Nurse shooting school to reach his full potential.
2. PG Tre Jones
After spending the early days of the offseason missing out on his older brother Tyus following his return to the Grizzlies, the Raptors would do well to give Tre a look. If San Antonio is committed to using Primo as their point guard of the future, Jones’ value will go down the drain.
Jones averaged 6.0 points and 3.4 assists per game last year, though he may have slightly inflated numbers thanks to the opportunities he received on a tanking team. Toronto might be able to take the diminutive two-way pest and work with him.
Tre Jones may appeal to the Toronto Raptors.
Jones is a complete non-factor from 3-point range in his first two seasons, and unlocking that may be instrumental in making him a consistent force at this level. Nurse has turned so many bad shooters into weapons, so Jones will likely not be a big challenge for him.
Jones has already shown he can be a nice finisher at the basket and a quality passer, which are two traits that pro-am standout Malachi Flynn has not shown. Perhaps a swap of these two prospects could be a mutually beneficial deal for both parties given their directions at the moment.
1. C Jakob Poeltl
The Poeltl trade rumors are not going to die out until San Antonio firmly takes him off the market. Now that the Utah alum has become the force Masai Ujiri thought he would evolve into with Toronto, Poeltl could be a quality role player in Toronto’s rise back to the top.
Poeltl pairs double-double potential (13.5 points, 9.3 rebounds per game) with All-Defensive level rim protection. With his contract situation a bit unstable at the moment, San Antonio could look to rebuild cheaply around promising lottery selection Jeremy Sochan.
Jakob Poeltl could still help the Toronto Raptors.
Poeltl is in the Myles Turner camp right now with regards to his availability. It would be nice if the Raptors got him as a short-term upgrade considering what a seamless fit he would be, but both sides have to jump through some fire-ringed hoops to consummate a move.
Even with those present facts at the moment, the Raptors need to keep Buford and Gregg Popovich on the line. If this team traded Murray for one veteran player who was quickly bought out in addition to the picks they acquired, Poeltl could be moved for much less.