Despite all the Kawhi Leonard hoopla (a promising report in that story earlier today), fans, analysts, and other basketball commentators haven’t stopped speculating about the Raptors’ roster and the Klaw’s anticipated return. With such a key piece expected to rejoin the fold to help lead another strong run, the discussion has opened up about what other moves the Raptors could make beyond the Kawhi trade to boost their chances of bringing home another championship.
Enter this brazen trade proposal courtesy of Zach Buckley for Bleacher Report NBA (article link here). He suggests Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving as another target for the Raptors to consider — one that could really shake up the 2027 championship race. Buckley's proposed package is as follows:
Raptors take another daring step to boost title chances with Kyrie Irving trade idea
Toronto Raptors receive: Kyrie Irving
Dallas Mavericks receive: Immanuel Quickley, Ja'Kobe Walter and a 2028 first-round pick (top-five protected)
There’s no secret that the point guard position has been one area in the Raptors’ pecking order that could use an upgrade — or at least, finding some untapped potential from the two current guys holding that spot, Immanuel Quickley and Jamal Shead. We’ve heard rumors that the Raptors may have already been exploring trade options to improve this position, with names like LaMelo Ball, Ja Morant, and Trae Young floated in the past. In fact, after missing out on some of those options, Kyrie Irving was one of the sensible alternatives I considered (maybe a tier below my top candidate, Jrue Holiday) that could be Toronto’s answer.
Switching from Quickley running the point to Irving, who, while being one of the most polarizing figures in NBA history, remains one of the league’s most savvy point guards. His ball-handling is stout, his clutch and pure scoring ability is top-notch, and his list of accolades speaks for itself: an NBA champion, nine-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, and All-NBA team appearances. Adding Irving to a Raptors core that already features a defensive nightmare duo of Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes would bring another exciting element to their title chase. The 34-year-old would give Toronto a unique weapon at the guard spot they've arguably never seen before.
Here’s where the feel-good shine of a Kyrie Irving trade starts to settle down a bit.
We’re talking about a 34-year-old coming off a torn ACL sustained in March 2025, an injury that kept him out for the entire 2025-26 season. Besides being a serious injury for a player getting up there in age and NBA miles, you also have to consider that dangerous combination causing Kyrie Irving to step back onto the court with signs of obvious ring rust and deterioration. It’s probably for these reasons that Buckley’s proposed haul to the Mavs only includes one first-round pick, along with Quickley and Ja’Kobe Walter.
While I’m not against the idea of letting go of IQ or picks to add Kyrie, I do have some hesitation about including Ja’Kobe Walter, as I’m sure others in Raptors Nation wouldn’t be so quick to part ways with this promising swingman. The future could prove me wrong, but I’m not saying that Walter, at his ceiling, will come close to Kyrie Irving’s career. That said, Walter still plays an important role for Toronto. He’s emerged as the Raptors’ gritty two-way player, showing commendable effort on defense and making an impressive leap as a three-point shooter — jumping from an already promising 35 percent in his rookie year to a stellar 40 percent for his sophomore campaign.
In the same way that prior Kawhi Leonard trade packages boldly suggested the inclusion of Walter, Jamal Shead, or even Collin Murray-Boyles, I’m not sure the Raptors would be wise as to give up a player who could become so crucial in their quest for a title. Players like Walter aren’t exactly easy to find, and I imagine that’s why the Mavericks would probably view the 21-year-old as the true centerpiece of this deal for them.
But would Kyrie Irving be the move that justifies letting go of 'Kob? That’s where I think this trade sparks some debate, beyond the obvious concerns about injury and age.
This is by no means a nonsensical or out-of-left-field trade. It certainly makes sense for a variety reasons, especially considering how close the overall title race can get and the competitive landscape of the Eastern Conference. The Raptors might need more than just the Kawhi Leonard addition to punch their ticket closer to NBA glory once again. But that doesn’t change the fact that many Raptors fans likely won’t jump the gun on a quick star trade like this without thinking about what could be lost or how things might backfire.
It’s always a tough call to make in these thought-provoking trade scenarios.
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