The Toronto Raptors have been linked to a possible trade. The Athletic’s Jovan Buha has reported that the Los Angtreles Lakers have had “preliminary” discussions with the Toronto Raptors in advance of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
There were rumored trade talks between the Raptors and the Lakers
After news of point guard Kyrie Irving’s trade request first broke on Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers were considered a possible suitor. Irving was eventually traded to the Dallas Mavericks the following day.
The Lakers have had a rough start to the season, but they still want to make the NBA playoffs. Toronto has become a “plan B” for Los Angeles.
Weirdly, the Lakers and the Raptors sit in almost the exact same spot in their respective conferences: 25-29 and two games back of a play-in spot, while the Raptors are 25-30 and just a half-game back of a play-in spot.
But the Lakers possess something no other team has: a 38-year-old LeBron James, whom they likely feel a duty to at least try to build a competitive roster around in the remaining seasons of his career. “The Lakers will remain active on the trade market, exploring deals both small and large.
The Toronto Raptors are a possible third team in the trade that will send Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks alongside the Brooklyn Nets.
“Both teams have been linked to the Lakers in recent weeks and have starter-level players who have been rumored to be available. However, talks remain
Toronto has seen trade-heavy rumours centred around guards Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. as well as forward O.G. Anunoby emerge over recent weeks.
It’s unlikely Los Angeles would have the assets needed to land Toronto’s top scorer in Pascal Siakam, with the team possessing the ability to not trade any first-round picks until 2027 due to NBA rules around trading consecutive first-round picks.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN added some background to the developing story:
ESPN Sources: Nets-Mavs trade still hasn’t been made official with league office because Nets are evaluating opportunities to expand deal w/ a third team. Teams are expected to make two-way deal official in next couple of hours – unless Nets find something bigger to fold into it.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2023
On the other hand, from a contractual standpoint, Los Angeles may be willing to trade for a star player.
Russell Westbrook — who is in the final year of a five-year, $206 million deal originally signed in Oklahoma City that has seen him play for four different franchises over the duration of the deal — has been oft-mentioned as a possible trade candidate, including most recently in a failed pitch for the Lakers to land Irving.
And it could all depend on how the conversations unfold ahead of Thursday’s deadline.
