Raptors news: 1 player untouchable in trade talks, Ime Udoka buzz growing

The Toronto Raptors have made it clear that they are not going to sit idly by while their team gets lapped by the rest of the Eastern Conference. Firing Nick Nurse, despite the fact that he is the only coach in franchise history with a championship ring, signals that direction loud and clear.

The Raptors may look to the trade market to pull that off, as the team has just one draft pick in their possession with no protections during the next three drafts. For an organization that has always shown a commitment to winning with their own players, the latest rumors make it seem like Masai Ujiri is willing to throw his own plans out of the window completely.

According to Josh Lewenberg of TSN, Scottie Barnes is the only player on the squad the Raptors consider untouchable in trade talks. With Fred VanVleet, Jakob Poeltl, and Gary Trent Jr. all free agents, OG Anunoby still in the rumor mill, and Pascal Siakam their most tradeable asset, it seems like Ujiri is going to take a sledgehammer to this team if he gets the right deal irrespective of who the coach is.

More Raptors news

• Masai Ujiri was not happy with the lack of developmental time some of Toronto’s younger players received this season.
• “One of the things we talked about was maybe utilizing some of these (younger) players a little bit more,” Ujiri said. “Like giving them room to actually show if they have or if they don’t have (it). I think we didn’t do so well with that this year. I think that hurt us some in developing our young players.”
• The oddsmakers seem to be taking a liking to Ime Udoka as the next Raptors head coach. Covers.com listed Udoka as the favorite to be the next coach at -110, while Adrian Griffin at +300 was the only other name with a better chance than +600.

NBA news:

• The Philadelphia 76ers finished off a sweep of the Brooklyn Nets, who never really got out of first gear after the Kevin Durant trade. While the Nets promise to be an interesting team next year after Mikal Bridges emerged as a star, the 76ers will move on to likely face the Boston Celtics in the second round.
• With Kawhi Leonard sitting out, the Phoenix Suns managed to go up 2-1 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Things are looking glum for Leonard, who may not play for the remainder of the series. He has yet to make the Conference Finals since leaving the Raptors.