4 Atlantic Division rivals the Raptors could trade for in 2022

Masai Ujiri is likely already greasing up his wheels and getting the Toronto Raptors trade rumors floating out in the miasma of NBA hearsay. Nick Nurse and this front office have not been one to shy away from potentially flipping the roster upside down at the deadline.

The Raptors have managed to fight and claw for a respectable 9-9 record to this point, which is impressive, given all of the injuries this team has sustained. When healthy, this team is still in need of one or two fresh faces that can come in and fix some of the holes that have opened in the last few weeks.

Considering how the stigma of trading within the division isn’t as strong as it used to be, the Raptors might be able to find someone to rectify their issues by picking around their own rivals’ rosters. The Atlantic is packed to the gills (if you’ll forgive the nautical-themed pun) with talent that Toronto could snatch up should they be aggressive.

These four players are all currently hanging out in the Raptors’ division, but they could be given up by their respective teams if Toronto manages to show up with a very enticing offer. With some of the wacky moves that have gone down lately, nothing should be off the table.

Toronto Raptors trade rumors: 4 Atlantic Division rivals to acquire

4. Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks

Quickley is a bizarre name to throw into the rumor mill, as the Knicks lack backcourt depth and Quickley himself gives them a spark off the bench. With the front office likely to retain him long-term now that Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett are eating up so much cash, Leon Rose appears to be trying to squeeze a first-round pick out of him.

Quickley is inefficient, as he has never made more than 40% of his shots in a season and his 3-point percentage has dipped to 31% this year. The optimist will see the fact that he’s a lightning-quick ball-handler who plays with effort and hustle on the defensive side of the ball as reason to pursue him.

The Toronto Raptors could be a solid spot for Immanuel Quickley

The Raptors appear no closer to deciding on either Dalano Banton or Malachi Flynn as the team’s backup point guard, but Quickley would give them an emphatic answer to this question while still being a year away from having to get paid. In the short term, the former Kentucky star would be a massive upgrade.

The Knicks are reportedly seeking a first-round pick in exchange for Quickley. Ujiri is one year removed from parting with a top-20 pick to acquire Thad Young, so he likely won’t have any qualms about doing so for Quickley if he is confident in his ability to resign him or compete for a title during his short Raptors tenure.