The trade deadline is approaching, and the rumors are starting to feel like the grocery store aisle where they keep the specific brand of crackers my aunt likes. You know they are there, but you have to move a lot of other boxes to find them. Brett Siegel is reporting that Toronto has been aggressive, specifically looking at New Orleans.
The name Yves Missi is coming up quite a bit lately. Apparently, the front office is considering a package involving RJ Barrett, Ochai Agbaji, and some draft picks to bring in both Missi and Trey Murphy. It is a lot of moving parts for a Wednesday in January.
RJ Barrett is currently high on the list of Canadian players in the digital world of NBA2K, which is a nice thing to have on a resume. He plays hard and he is from here, but the business of basketball is often indifferent to where you grew up. If this trade happens, we would be sending out a lot of rotation minutes for potential and secondary scoring.
The Untouchable Nature of Scottie
There is a growing sentiment that Scottie Barnes has reached a level of importance where the phone just stays on the charger when other GMs call. Some people think the only players worth trading him for are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Victor Wembanyama. That is a very short list of people.
Scottie is the kind of player who makes you think about the future while you are trying to enjoy the present. He does everything on the court, sometimes all at once, which can be exhausting to watch but is generally considered good for winning. He is the franchise pillar now, like those big concrete supports under the Gardiner Expressway that you hope are doing their job.
Theoretical Reunions and Center Rotations
People are also talking about a hypothetical world where Giannis Antetokounmpo goes to the Knicks, which usually leads to thoughts about OG Anunoby coming back to Toronto. It is like thinking about an ex-girlfriend who was very good at defensive rotations. We miss the steals and the short answers in interviews, but the logistics of a return are always complicated.
In the more immediate world of things that are actually happening, Mitchell Robinson is out for the game tonight. This is good news because the Raptors tend to struggle against centers who stand near the basket and move things out of the way. Without Robinson, the path to the rim might be slightly less crowded.
We should probably win this one, especially if Scottie plays the way people expect him to play against Karl-Anthony Towns. Losing tonight would feel like losing your car keys in your own house. You know they have to be there somewhere, but the fact that you cannot find them is deeply frustrating.
Current Notes on the Roster
- Daniel Gafford is also reportedly on the radar for the deadline.
- The Bulls are talking to teams about Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, which is their business, but it affects the market value of everyone else.
- Ochai Agbaji remains a solid piece of the rotation for now, even if his name is in the headlines.