Tonight marks night two of the 2025 NBA Draft, with the second round selections to be made. As of now, at the time of writing, the Toronto Raptors are scheduled to make a pick at 39th overall (via Portland).
However, if this report from NBA insider Jake Fischer is to suggest anything, that pick could just be headed elsewhere. Fischer highlighted this rumor in a post on X earlier this afternoon:
Minnesota, with the No. 31 and first pick of tonight’s second round, is also fielding trade interest for the Timberwolves’ selection, sources say. https://t.co/bENOZHDI27
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 26, 2025
While Toronto is not the main focus of these discussions, Fischer notes that their 39th pick is one of the known trade targets. Whether this is a recent development within the past 24 hours or a result of the Raptors signaling their openness to draft-day trades in the weeks leading up to these festivities remains unclear to me.
Raptors' 39th pick is reportedly open for trade
To that point, it's important to note that Toronto's ninth overall pick was the subject of numerous trade rumors — ranging from potential blockbuster deals for Kevin Durant to possible pick-and-player swaps for Nets sharpshooter Cam Johnson.
However, the rumor mill proved that it is merely a cycle of speculation. The Raptors ultimately decided to stand pat with the ninth pick, somewhat controversially selecting defensive forward Collin Murray-Boyles out of South Carolina.
It would be foolish for me to think that, just when rumors start swirling about the Raptors, they should be taken as gospel and accepted as truth. However, if the information comes from a reputable insider, that would also suggest there’s enough reason to believe some discussions might be underway, right?
Now, on the second night of the draft, is this yet another smokescreen by Toronto, or are they genuinely planning something with that 39th overall pick?
As I mentioned in an earlier piece this morning, there’s a very Raptors-centric option in the second round: Creighton big man Ryan Kalkbrenner. However, their current 39th spot could mean he’s already off the board by then. Perhaps this is where Toronto might move up to secure a Jakob Poeltl-lite?
We still have just under four hours before the second round begins, and whether they choose to do something right before the 39th pick is called or not, I believe this is yet another instance of Raptors Nation bracing for impact once again.