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3 offseason mistakes Raptors made that led to slow 2022 start

By Mike Luciano

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 28: Head coach Nick Nurse of Toronto Raptors watches the action in the second half of Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 28: Head coach Nick Nurse of Toronto Raptors watches the action in the second half of Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors, Scottie Barnes
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 14: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

1. Not trading for Kevin Durant

Not stepping up in these trade talks and making a more compelling offer to the Nets may end up creating one of the truly great “what if?” moments in Raptors history. After being told including Barnes was a non-starter in trade talks, Brooklyn started to disengage with Toronto and end that line of inquiry.

Keeping Barnes and acquiring Durant could have very well happened if Ujiri was interested. Perhaps get a third team involved? The Raptors had a nice combination of youngsters, picks, and veterans that could have gotten a deal done.

The Toronto Raptors should have pushed for Kevin Durant.

While a Raptors roster that is already lacking depth would have been stripped bare to acquire Durant, a three-headed hydra of Durant, Siakam, and Anunoby would have been nightmarish to defend. KD is still scoring 30 points a game with great efficiency despite chaos around him in Brooklyn.

The Raptors don’t have a championship window open right now, but a Durant move would have thrown that period of contention wide open. With Siakam in his prime, Barnes needs to get back to his Rookie of the Year self to silence the echoes of the KD move.

Next. 4 big trades Masai Ujiri could make. dark