The Toronto Raptors have already bit the bullet and decided to rebuild. The trades of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby are clear signals that Masai Ujiri has waived the white flag and ended any chance of competing for postseason spots with the team's established core of players.
The Raptors are building their next generation of basketball around the exploits of players like Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley. To get themselves as prepared as possible, Ujiri seems willing to listen to trade deadline calls on any veteran player on the Toronto roster.
Toronto has already been upfront in hinting they are not done making trades, as the 2024-25 roster is going to look much different than the amalgamation of ill-fitting pieces Darko Rajakovic has to meld together to form a rotation. This could be bad (or good, depending on your perspective) for the vets on the team.
Anyone who is not a stone-cold lock to return to the roster next year can be had if a team wants to give Ujiri the assets he needs to move on. Teams could be desperate, which would lead to a trio of Raptors veterans being shown the door as their time north of the border ends.
3 Toronto Raptors who won't be on the team after the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline
3. Chris Boucher
Boucher is the last player from the Raptors' championship team to stick around, but the winds of change sweeping through the organization might be enough to lead to a trade. Boucher has suitors, and his play can still be very effective in the right role on both ends of the floor.
While Boucher's minutes and per-game stats have declined this season, he's shown to still be a very capable rebounder and rim-runner when Darko Rajakovic lets him play his game. There's no such thing as too much rebounding in the NBA, and his contract status for next year could help the Raptors get some useful assets back in a swap.
Chris Boucher could be traded by the Toronto Raptors.
The rival Boston Celtics have had interest in Boucher in the past, and teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat (who rank in the bottom six in rebounds per game) might do well to at least extend some feelers out and see what the market is for the former G League star right now.
Trading Boucher would show that Ujiri's ill-fated "Vision 6-9" is dying a very public and loud death. After being stuffed with too many 6-8 power forwards over the last few years, moving Boucher and Precious Achiuwa would show that Ujiri is realizing the error of his ways.
2. Otto Porter Jr.
Porter is once again on the outside looking in, as his health problems and declining play have limited him to just a handful of games. His two-year contract given out in the 2022 offseason appears to look like a complete wash at this point, and Ujiri seems to have realized.
Gradey Dick has had an immensely underwhelming rookie season, yet he is in a dead heat with Porter in terms of games played (23) and points scored (82). The Raptors have no avenue for Porter to play meaningful minutes, which could precipitate an exit in a trade or timely release.
Otto Porter Jr. hasn't been healthy for the Toronto Raptors.
Porter's career with the Raptors never got out of first gear, as the injury problems that plagued him during his entire career popped up immediately. Rajakovic even tried to put Porter into the rotation earlier in the season, but the lethal cocktail of his poor play and injury history knee-capped his chances of being an effective player.
It remains unlikely that any team would view Porter as someone who could come in and make a tangible impact on how they operate daily. The likeliest future that Porter will see come to fruition is getting moved as salary filler and then unceremoniously dumped. It's tough to see for a veteran, but injuries have sapped him of his skill.
1. Gary Trent Jr.
And not Bruce Brown! While Brown is owed a good chunk of money next season, the combination of his fit on the Toronto bench and the Raptors' high asking price for someone who might not move the needle on the offensive end might make a pending free agent in Trent a much better acquisition for contenders.
Trent's scoring is down compared to the last two years, but the fact his efficiency is up shows that his decline was the result of a reduced role amid the Barnes breakout. Contenders and wannabe postseason teams in the league will likely be willing to give quite a significant chunk of changer to get Trent.
The Toronto Raptors could part ways with Gary Trent Jr.
The Los Angeles Lakers are never going to turn down a Klutch client becoming available via trade, and the Brooklyn Nets have reportedly expressed interest in him. The Raptors may not get an unprotected first for a soon-to-be free agent, but they could get some picks and a player worth acquiring.
Losing Trent, especially after some rumors that hinted at an extension with Toronto in the offseason, stings. However, with Dick expected to fill his role and as many as four first-round picks in their possession in the upcoming draft, the Raptors have the means to replace him.