Raptors news: team reportedly willing to trade their top scorer from last season

The Toronto Raptors are trying to shake things up. Recent Raptors rumors revealed that the team was a dark-horse trade destination for Kevin Durant, but the rumors don’t end there. Now that the Raptors have lost out on KD, they are still looking to be active in the trade market. 

This includes shopping their leading scorer from last season. 

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Raptors are actively gauging the market for an RJ Barrett trade. 

“Toronto has also continued to gauge the trade market on RJ Barrett, league sources told HoopsHype. Barrett, who’s owed $57.32 million over the next two seasons, averaged a career-high 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.”

This may come as a surprise to Raptors fans, as R.J. had a career year in Toronto. He is also a native Canadian. 

Still, the Raptors aren’t going to stand still this offseason. Regardless of losing out on the Kevin Durant trade sweepstakes, they still want to make moves. 

It is unclear if the Raptors’ front office wants an RJ Barrett trade to pick up younger assets to develop or get more win-now talent. 

You’d think at only 25 years old and coming off a career season that the Raptors would want to keep Barrett around. And they may. But not before seeing what trading him could get them on the open market. 

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This is a risky move for the Raptors. If they are unable to trade RJ Barrett, then he may return to the team next season less motivated and less engaged. If they do trade him, they better make sure the return is worth losing a 25-year-old 20-point-per-game scorer. 

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