Grade the Trade: Raptors sell high on RJ Barrett to land Jokic 2.0 in new proposal

RJ Barrett is having a phenomenal 2024.

Since arriving on the Toronto Raptors around New Years he has been on an absolute bender. He averaged 21.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 32 games with the Raptors, shooting 39.2 percent from 3-point range, and was clearly the team's second-best player next to Scottie Barnes.

Only 12 players averaged 21-6-4 last season, most of them All-Stars, and only two players -- LeBron James and Kevin Durant -- did so while shooting at least 39 percent from 3-point range.

Barrett then joined Team Canada for the Paris Olympics and was arguably the team's best player -- and certainly its most consistent -- and was the fourth-leading scorer among all 12 teams at the Olympics.

The Raptors could sell high on RJ Barrett

The expectation is that the Raptors will be overjoyed at what appears to be a step forward for the Toronto native and will move forward with Barrett as a part of their core. Yet just nine months ago when the OG Anunoby trade went down many analysts were decrying Barrett as dead weight in the deal.

What if the Raptors pivoted, selling high on Barrett while his value is greater than it has been since he was drafted? They could use Barrett and his contract to go after another player on the trade market.

Let's see what such a deal could look like, with the Raptors calling up a team far to the south to discuss doing business.