Lauri Markkanen? Trae Young? Raptors don't need to dive into next big offseason trade

New York Times

9 hours ago

TORONTO — Part of the problem with the rushed nature of this part of the NBA schedule is that we don't have time to digest anything. That feels especially pertinent given what happened on Sunday night.
In their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers also suffered a brutal blow to their hopes for next year, with star guard Tyrese Haliburton going down with a torn Achilles. There is little time to bemoan the injury or feel for the Pacers, authors of one of the most magical playoff runs ever. The NBA Finals runs into Wednesday's draft runs into the start of free agency early next week. If you aren't adjusting on the fly, you'll get run over.
Advertisement
There is a danger in that, too. The Toronto Raptors are one of the teams that knew they had to assess a weakened Eastern Conference and what it means for their future before the Haliburton injury. Next year, the Boston Celtics won't have Jayson Tatum, the Milwaukee Bucks won't have Damian Lillard and, now, the Pacers won't have Haliburton. That leaves the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks as the conference favourites, but the Cavaliers are coming off a rough playoff exit and face financial headaches, while the Knicks don't have a head coach and were unconvincing in the playoffs, despite winning two rounds.
'I mean, (the openness of the East) was a big part of why we did the Brandon Ingram trade,' Raptors assistant general manager Dan Tolzman said Monday, when he spoke to the media about the draft.
You'll recall that the Raptors made the move before Tatum, Lillard and Haliburton went down. Indeed, things are uncertain.
After trading for Desmond Bane, the Orlando Magic seem ready to step up, but let's see them post an above-average offence for the first time in a decade and a half before we hand them the third seed. The Detroit Pistons are promising, with a genuine star in Cade Cunningham, but hardly a sure thing. You can throw the Raptors in a bucket with the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and, maybe, Charlotte Hornets. As ever, the Philadelphia 76ers belong in their own bucket, presumably one riddled with holes in the bottom.
That has teams such as the Raptors wondering whether they should make a big push toward immediate contention, the opportunity being so clearly there for the taking. To that, I think there is a risk of losing sight of the actual goal: creating a multi-year window for contention, not taking a one-year stab at greatness.
To that end, at least Kevin Durant is on his way to Houston. He never made sense with the Raptors because he is turning 37, even before considering the Raptors weren't on his preferred list of teams, presumably affecting his willingness to sign an extension. Giannis Antetokounmpo would be worth the risk, but there are no signs he is available. After that, who really fits with the Raptors, assuming two of their five big-money players have to be moved in such a deal?
Advertisement
Before contemplating that, remember that: a) the Raptors are already poised to play footsie with the luxury tax. They could decide to pay it, but a lot of the teams dangling difference-makers either want prospects or savings, and the Raptors can't offer much of the latter; b) Barnes and Ingram haven't played a minute together, and the Raptors are 40-84 since they traded away Pascal Siakam, likely cutting into their eagerness to throw more than a pick or two into a trade for any non-star upgrade; c) Jakob Poeltl is the Raptors' only proven centre and Immanuel Quickley is their only proven point guard. Moving either for a wing or forward would be complicated.
With that out of the way…
• Utah's Lauri Markkanen is probably the only player who is clearly available and makes sense around Scottie Barnes. A framework of Markkanen and Collin Sexton for Quickley and R.J. Barrett works, but the Jazz would presumably want a similar return in picks to what the Memphis Grizzlies got for Bane. Do the Raptors believe enough in a core of Barnes, Markkanen, Ingram and Poeltl to do that? Markkanen is coming off a down year, but he's 28 and can shoot, making it conceptually intriguing.
• Boston traded Jrue Holiday late Monday, and the Celtics are likely to dangle Kristaps Porziņģis if they want to gain further savings rather than moving Derrick White or Jaylen Brown, both of whom would make more sense for the Raptors. The Raptors cannot offer much financial relief to Boston, and Porziņģis is not worth the trouble given his injury issues.
• Atlanta's Trae Young might be gettable, but Tolzman spoke for a while on Monday about the importance of defence in the playoffs. Young is also not a natural fit in Darko Rajaković's system.
• Memphis's Ja Morant and New Orleans' Zion Williamson are so talented that the Raptors would at least have to talk about either, but there is no indication those guys are available, never mind the risks they would bring.
Advertisement
If the Raptors can find a need-for-need trade out there, that could be a different story. It is unlikely the Raptors can get the most out of Barnes, Barrett and Ingram if they are all playing more than 30 minutes a night.
Other than that, the move is to play a half-season and see how good this team can be. With Ingram, the Raptors have already sped up their rebuild. They can afford to let it play out for a moment.
(Photo of Lauri Markkanen: Alex Goodlett / Getty Images)