Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. increase trade value as Raptors topple Knicks

Fred VanVleet and his Toronto Raptors saw most of the air leak out of their proverbial balloon over the last week, as they managed to lose three straight games against the Bucks, Timberwolves, and Celtics despite all three of those opponents missing most of their most impactful players.

The New York Knicks aren’t exactly playing tremendous basketball right now, and that is part of the reason that VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. started off the first half of their Sunday clash in such a dominant fashion. Both of them combined for 31 first-half points amid a nonstop barrage of trade rumors.

The Raptors managed to continue their recent run of success against New York, taking home a 125-116 victory in Toronto. VanVleet finished with 28 points on 8-19 shooting, while Trent managed to chip in with 24 points of his own. Fans were thrilled to see a win, but Masai Ujiri might be the happiest of anyone.

Ujiri is clearly going to make a trade at some point in the near future, and VanVleet and Trent make the most sense to deal away if the Raptors want to get a ton of assets. If they keep performing well, their value is only going to increase.

Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. starred as Raptors beat Knicks.

VanVleet is being targeted by teams like the Suns and Magic in free agency, but Toronto could decide to part ways with him in a few weeks should they be able to find a trade offer that whets their whistle. VanVleet topped 25 points in four straight games and six times in the new year, and he’s starting to get his efficiency back up.

Trent appears to be more likely to be traded than VanVleet, as teams will covet his pesky defense and microwave shooting. If the Raptors are intent on avoiding giving him a $25 million per season contract in the offseason, the least they can do is get a haul back for him from a contender in need of a guard.

With Precious Achiuwa once again piling up a double-double in a starting role and Scottie Barnes bouncing back after a poor second half against Boston, the Raptors managed to tick several positive boxes in what has been a very trying time. While it stinks to talk trades so heavily, especially with two terrific players, Ujiri has to be happy with how their value improved.

If Ujiri plays his cards right at the deadline, he could end up with multiple unprotected first-round picks and two new players that are talented, young, and on affordable contracts. The Raptors will have plenty of options available to them at the deadline, and they will continue to have more offers fly in if VanVleet and Trent keep this up.