Raptors – Page 4 – Syndication Server

NBA intel: James Harden free agency, Doc Rivers, Sixers, Rockets, Nets, more

The latest NBA intel on the futures of James Harden and Doc Rivers with the 76ers, and coaching updates for the Rockets, Nets, Frank Vogel, and more from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Hours ahead of the 2023 NBA draft lottery, executives and scouts arrived at Wintrust Arena and hotels nearby in Chicago buzzing about the futures of Sixers star James Harden and coach Doc Rivers and other coaching spots around the league.

HoopsHype spoke with NBA execs and scouts on hand to get their takes on the futures of Harden and Rivers, who could be coaching candidates in Philadelphia if Rivers is let go, and the latest coaching intel on the Rockets, Nets, Mavericks, Celtics, and interest in former head coaches Frank Vogel and Stephen Silas.

Raptors offseason primer: Fred VanVleet’s free agency, Pascal Siakam extension potential, more

The Toronto Raptors have the challenge of navigating their roster back to contention with so many key players due for big new contracts soon.

Toronto zagged pretty hard at the trade deadline when everyone else thought they would zig. Instead of moving some of their best players for future assets, they traded future assets for another good player. This suggests that the Raptors’ front office believes they are close to contending with this group and any sort of rebuild is not on the table. But after missing the playoffs for the second time in four seasons, time on this core could be running out.

This Raptors team is arguably better than the results it put out this season when considering it contains mostly the same group that won seven more games last year. And more continuity with Jakob Poeltl heading into 2023-24 and perhaps a new head coach, if all the smoke surrounding Nick Nurse is real, should help. But with the East getting stronger at the top, they may be closer to being a No. 5 seed again than they are contending for titles.

Here is a preview of the 2023 offseason for the Raptors.

NBA Intel: Kevin Durant, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, OG Anunoby, Knicks, Raptors, Grizzlies

Reporting on trade talks for Kevin Durant, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, OG Anunoby, Knicks, Raptors, and more from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto

Kevin Durant shifted the landscape of the NBA literally and figuratively when the Brooklyn Nets sent the All-Star forward and TJ Warren West to the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster trade for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks, and a 2028 pick swap.

Wednesday night also included Kyrie Irving’s Dallas debut, D’Angelo Russell, Russell Westbrook, Mike Conley, Josh Hart, Jakob Poeltl, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt all getting traded.

With hours left before the trade deadline buzzer, you’ll find all the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype.

Sources: Nets and Raptors trade talks involve Pascal Siakam, Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, more

Reporting on Nets and Raptors trade talks involving Pascal Siakam, Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, and draft picks from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto

The Brooklyn Nets have expressed interest in trading for Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, league sources told HoopsHype. Brooklyn’s interest in Siakam was first reported by Marc Stein.

Toronto covets Nets starting center Nic Claxton and has expressed interest in acquiring him in trade discussions with Brooklyn, league sources told HoopsHype. At last year’s trade deadline, the Raptors offered a first-round pick in an attempt to acquire Claxton and have since kept an eye on the rising center. Nets forward Ben Simmons and several first-round draft picks have also been discussed in trade conversations with the Raptors, league sources told HoopsHype.

The Nets have also separately expressed interest in OG Anunoby.

According to a report from Marc Stein, the Nets have dabbled with flipping Spencer Dinwiddie and draft compensation to Toronto for Fred VanVleet too.

Siakam is averaging career-highs in points (24.7) and assists (6.2) this season while leading the league in minutes per game (37.5) for the second straight season. Siakam turns 29 in April and is scheduled to earn $37.9 million next season.

VanVleet has a $22.8 million player option, which he’s expected to decline and enter unrestricted free agency, league sources say. He’s currently No. 3 overall in our HoopsHype free agent rankings.

Anunoby is considered one of the top wing defenders in the league. He’s owed $18.6 million next season and then has a $19.9 million player option for the 2024-25 season, per our HoopsHype Raptors salaries page.

Claxton has transformed into a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and was viewed as Brooklyn’s third-best player according to rival NBA executives before the team traded Kyrie Irving to Dallas.

Simmons is owed $78.23 million over the next two seasons, per our HoopsHype Nets salary page.

You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on Twitter.

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Four potential Kevin Durant trade destinations (if the Nets blow things up)

The Kyrie Irving trade saga came to a swift conclusion when the Nets agreed to trade him and Markieff Morris to the Mavericks for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and a 2029 first-round pick. It might be safe to assume that the Nets will aim …

The Kyrie Irving trade saga came to a swift conclusion when the Nets agreed to trade him and Markieff Morris to the Mavericks for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and a 2029 first-round pick. It might be safe to assume that the Nets will aim to remain competitive at least for this season based on the return they got for Irving.

But with Irving officially gone, what if Kevin Durant decides to reopen his trade request again? According to Chris Haynes, the Suns are prepared to pursue Durant should he become available. With rival teams circling the Nets for this scenario, here is Brooklyn’s outlook if they continue competing versus eventually blowing it up.

Raptors Rumors: Gary Trent Jr, OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Nick Nurse

Reporting on trade talks involving Gary Trent Jr, OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, and the futures of Pascal Siakam and Nick Nurse on HoopsHype.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Sportsnet Raptors analyst and host Blake Murphy report on trade talks involving Gary Trent Jr, OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, and the futures of Pascal Siakam and Nick Nurse on the latest HoopsHype podcast episode.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

NBA Notebook: Myles Turner, Bojan Bogdanovic, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Bones Hyland

Reporting on Myles Turner’s extension, Bojan Bogdanovic’s future, trade talks with Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Bones Hyland and more.

With just over a week until the NBA’s trade deadline, teams are monitoring the Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz as needle movers on the trade market.

Quietly, there’s a hope among NBA executives that one of these teams, or another, will reset the trade market for marquee players following Minnesota’s acquisition of Rudy Gobert, which has made it harder for bigger deals to get done due to an overpay of draft pick compensation.

With that in mind, this week’s NBA notebook includes the latest trade intel on Bojan Bogdanovic, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and more from our Michael Scotto. Plus, the latest trade rumors commentary on Bones Hyland and what Myles Turner’s extension means for the trade market from our capologist Yossi Gozlan, and a look at trade deadline history by Alberto De Roa.

Lakers and four other potential trade destinations for Fred VanVleet

We are less than two weeks away from the trade deadline and the Toronto Raptors remain the most interesting team ahead of it. They are five games below .500 and have just begun a seven-game road trip that ends four days before the trade deadline. By …

If they continue to spiral and decide to trade some of their best players, Fred VanVleet has emerged as a major candidate to get moved. The 6-foot-1 guard is having a down-shooting season but is in the middle of a hot stretch right now. He has a $22.8 million player option for next season which he is expected to decline and enter free agency. He is eligible to extend for up to four years, $114.2 million but could earn more as a free agent. His impending free agency status and the impracticality for the Raptors to pay all their best players are pressing his trade candidacy.

Below are five teams that would be good fits for VanVleet and have enough assets to make a strong offer.

Trade deadline: Miami and four other teams that could make financially-motivated deals

Five NBA teams could make cost-saving trades ahead of the trade deadline according to HoopsHype’s capologist Yossi Gozlan.

As we get closer to February 9th’s trade deadline, there are some teams that could be motivated to make cost-cutting deals. Some, like the Mavericks and Sixers, could look to decrease their luxury tax penalties for this season. But then there are teams that could be approaching the luxury tax next season with their current roster.

For example, the Raptors are a team that could be looking to make a significant trade partly because all their top players are due for raises in the near future. Whether this season or during the offseason, we could see teams preemptively move some of their highest-paid players to avoid any future tax issues.

Here are some teams that could make financially motivated trades soon.

NBA Notebook: Russell Westbrook, OG Anunoby, Cam Reddish, Kyle Kuzma, Rui Hachimura, more

Reporting on trade talks for Cam Reddish, Bojan Bogdanovic, Naz Reid, Rui Hachimura, Russell Westbrook’s Sixth Man case and OG Anunoby fits.

With just over two weeks until the NBA’s trade deadline, there’s more urgency between rival executives to determine if there’s a middle ground on the asking price for a coveted player and what’s real beyond the smokescreens.

With that in mind, this week’s NBA notebook includes the latest trade intel on Bojan Bogdanovic, Jakob Poeltl, Cam Reddish, Grayson Allen, Rui Hachimura, Naz Reid, Alec Burks, Doug McDermott, Josh Richardson, Serge Ibaka, and Kyle Kuzma’s free agency from our Michael Scotto. Plus, the latest trade rumors commentary on OG Anunoby and Hachimura from our capologist Yossi Gozlan, a free agency stock watch from our Frank Urbina, and a look at Russell Westbrook’s case for Sixth Man of the Year by Alberto De Roa.