Toronto had been linked to LaMelo Ball trade rumors before, but those talks quickly reignited this past week.
The Raptors, alongside the Minnesota Timberwolves, were two teams in the rumor mill who were reportedly showing interest in the 24-year-old former Rookie of the Year. Minnesota, in their own right, had been getting active in the market with a bold Julius Randle salary dump to Brooklyn and subsequent extension for free agent guard Ayo Dosunmu.
To the surprise of many, it was the Wolves who managed to get a quick jump on a LaMelo Ball trade, as they got the deal done on the morning of June 25, when chatter was only picking up on those talks just mere hours before.
Unfortunately for the Raptors, it eliminated a very intriguing point guard candidate off their radar. While Ball has faced some off-court issues and questions about his health, winning impact, and dedication to the game, it doesn't change the fact that, at his best, LaMelo is one of the most dynamic floor generals in the league. His size and length definitely added another layer to what could've been a seamless Raptors fit.
Now, Toronto will need to look elsewhere if they want to significantly upgrade the point guard spot or find additional answers behind their current situation with Immanuel Quickley and Jamal Shead. But how exactly do the Raptors address this massive point guard question with one of their top targets, LaMelo Ball, off the table?
Backup plans to improve the Raptors' point guard situation after LaMelo Ball miss
Well, the next easy answer from the rumored trade block is Ja Morant. The Grizzlies star was another big-name point guard (alongside LaMelo and Trae Young, prior to the Wizards deal) who was finding his name in Raptors trade rumors, and continues to be an interesting target to consider this offseason.
Meanwhile, there are some veteran point guards who could be on the move like De'Aaron Fox (I don't think too many Raptors fans would especially love that after his 2026 Finals showing), Kyrie Irving (I can warm up a lot more to this idea), or Jrue Holiday (my sleeper pick of the bunch).
Specifically, Irving and Holiday would bring years of experience, and championship-bred experience at that, as they are among some of the most savvy PG's of the modern era — which could only serve to give the Raptors a much-needed edge on that front. A Raptors–Holiday link has been a connection that actually piqued my interest for a while now, seeing as he would be a seamless fit into the team's two-way culture, bringing relentless hustle and winning impact.
The point guard free agency market doesn't look as hot as the names I just listed, and even then, that list was quite small.
Some names that Toronto could explore bringing in this summer include Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton, Gabe Vincent, Aaron Holiday, Russell Westbrook, Gary Payton II, Jevon Carter, and Tyus Jones. Quality names, sure, and each providing their own unique skillsets to Toronto's outlook, but I'd argue they're not quite tailor-made for the Raptors' system. Maybe GP3, Carter or Jones are the most probable minimum options for Toronto, however, it's expected many guys of this caliber mentioned are going to be hot commodities chased around the league.
The Raptors will have definitely their hands full here, and perhaps, we could see some internal progress reveal itself as the solution to these point guard needs — with the underrated Jaden Bradley second-round selection or leaps from two-way pet projects Alijah Martin and Chucky Hepburn.
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