Buy or sell latest batch of Toronto Raptors trade rumors before trade deadline

The Toronto Raptors are generally not in a position to dictate the pace of the NBA trade deadline, but they have equally valid cases for moving in either the buying or selling direction. In the last few weeks, Toronto has been linked to moves in both directions, and more rumors are sure to trickle in.

On the one hand, Toronto had two players who could hit free agency, Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr., available for the taking. They could be used to build a more robust bench. However, Toronto has enough standout starters to make a bit of a playoff push in what has become a wide-open Eastern Conference.

Masai Ujiri likely doesn’t even know what path he’s going to take just yet, as there is quite a lot of time before the deadline comes and moves must be made. As such, Ujiri is likely extending his tendrils all across the league in an attempt to gauge interest in some of his best players and position himself to make an aggressive move.

As such, the Raptors have been connected to plenty of notable names in the last few days. Some of them make sense, while others would be a slightly unrealistic dream. Which rumors are we buying, and which ones don’t hold up?

Buy or sell the latest Toronto Raptors trade rumors.

3. Raptors eyeing Jalen McDaniels, looking to trade Gary Trent Jr.

If I had my druthers, Trent would get a contract that either approaches or hits nine figures. You need multiple players with his skillset to win in the modern NBA. However, Toronto seems more willing to let him go in favor of adding yet another 6-9 versatile forward. Have they not learned their lesson from this season?

McDaniels is having the best season of his career despite being surrounded by some genuinely poor play around him in Charlotte, and he is a free agent at the end of this season. If the Raptors don’t have any plans of abandoning the “Vision 6-9” philosophy, McDaniels could fit the scheme, however flawed it is, like a glove.

Can the Toronto Raptors acquire Jalen McDaniels?

McDaniels is shooting 36% from 3-point range on a somewhat respectable volume per game, so there’s optimism that he could be a seventh man for the Raptors in their post-Trent era. Of course, that’s putting a ton of pressure on a young player who has spent the first four years of his career with bad Hornets teams.

While swapping out Trent for McDaniels straight up would be a horrendous move, don’t be surprised if these two end up moving to new teams as a result of different transactions. Raptors fans might be sick of all the power forwards, but that might not be enough to convince Ujiri that his favorite system is not going to turn this team into a winner.

Verdict: Buy