NFL
By: Greg Rector
Toronto Raptors fans are not a happy bunch after the trade deadline passed and the only move was to reacquire Jakob Poetl from the Spurs. There had been so much talk about several Raptors being moved with the team currently not in a playoff position and the upcoming salary concerns for the 2023-2024 season it might seem like the direction is uncertain for We The North. I will break down what the future might hold for Canada’s basketball team. After the deadline came and went the Toronto Raptors front office has to decide on the future direction. Masai Ujuri and GM Bobby Webster are definitely going to be a very busy tandem. To me, they aren’t a contender in the Eastern Conference, have used their starters way too much again, and will likely be a draft lottery team, the closer the better to have the best shot at the young man from France.
Fred Van Vleet
There was plenty of interest in Fred VanVleet, however, nothing materialized. His situation seems pretty clear to me. He turned down a 4-year extension in the off-season, changed his agent, and appears destined to not exercise his player option for next season. I believe the Toronto Raptors will do exactly what they did with Kyle Lowry and arrange for a sign and trade involving VanVleet. If not they risk losing him for nothing, a move I don’t think Masai Ujuri and bobby Webster would get into even more hot water with the fanbase if it happened. The likely destination to me seems to be the Los Angeles Clippers since the Phoenix Suns have moved so much draft capital.
Gary Trent Jr
Like VanVleet plenty of teams were looking to add Trent Jr. at the deadline. Contractually he is in the same situation as VanVleet, he can turn down his player option so another sign and trade might be a possibility. The likely scenario though will be with a bit more cap freedom once VanVleet moves the Toronto Raptors might very well keep Gary Trent Jr. His name was red hot in the rumor mill and cooled off because the talk is he is truly happy in Toronto.
OG Anunoby
The hottest name in all the rumors for the last month has been Anunoby. The Toronto Raptors know exactly what the offers will be for him even in the off-season. If the decision is made to move on from OG there’s no doubt the likes of Memphis, Philadelphia, Indiana, and others would need to come up with three first-round picks and possibly a young player with two first-round picks in order to get one of the league’s best defenders. I also believe that Siakam and VanVleet will see their minutes reduced and use Anunoby more offensively which is something all the reports suggest Anunoby wants most of all, the opportunity to be more involved offensively.
Pascal Siakam
The two-time All-NBA selection is for starters maybe the crown jewel and most sentimental player for Masai Ujuuri especially. There were offers indeed for Siakam and none of them gave the return the Toronto Raptors were looking for. Pascal Siakam though will be 29 in April and maybe his timeline doesn’t fit with the future plans that Ujuri and Webster will decide upon. I believe if the Raptors do indeed get themselves a top-five draft pick they could move Siakam. Outside of that happening it will be hard to pry him away unless a team makes a huge offer to acquire him.
The Future
One good thing about getting Poetl back for the Toronto Raptors is the simple fact Christian Koloko can develop in the G-League and get physically stronger. While he showed many good things his frame prevented him from stopping the likes of Giannis and Embid. I truly believe the Toronto Raptors’ discussions this afternoon included head coach Nick Nurse and he was told the 37 and 39 minutes a game for his core players are over. If they do manage to get a good spot in the draft the decisions will be a challenge. Do they make the jump back into contenders and keep Siakam, Anunoby, and Trent Jr? Or will they truly turn themselves into Scottie Barnes’ team and run with a much younger core? Plenty of options and it will be interesting to see their direction for the 2023-2024 season and beyond.
