The Toronto Raptors could be big fish hunting ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
The Raptors are reportedly showing some level of interest in Sacramento Kings’ star De’Aaron Fox, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel:
“One should never count out the Raptors from pulling off a big, unexpected move for a star. Executive Masai Ujiri is always very precise when it comes to setting his organization up to make big moves, and it’s become clear that the Raptors want to find another young star to pair with Scottie Barnes.
Could Fox be that guy and end up in Toronto, similar to how Kawhi Leonard did in 2018? Don’t count out the Raptors from making a significant addition in the near future.”
Sportsnet’s Michael Grange previously reported that the Raptors have been searching for “a significant piece” to pair alongside Scottie Barnes. Fox would give the Raptors a dynamic point guard who would help boost Toronto’s offense. The 27-year-old is one of the best guards in the league averaging 25.1 points and 6.2 assists per game this season.
The Raptors would likely have to part ways with Immanuel Quickley who the team just signed to a five-year deal last summer. Quickley hasn’t been able to stay healthy this season, appearing in only 9 games.
The only way this would make sense for the Raptors is if they’re interested in a win now move and want to speed up their competitive timeline with Barnes playing some of his best basketball.
However, Fox is only under contract for one more season after this year and he reportedly prefers the San Antonio Spurs as a destination when his current deal expires. It would be a huge gamble for the Raptors who are still not close to title contention.
Given where the Raptors stand it’s more likely they make a trade involving their expiring contracts rather than trade away a core piece. It is important to note that if a Fox trade does go down, the Raptors could also act as a facilitator in a larger deal.
Raptors team to monitor for Brandon Ingram
De’Aaron Fox isn’t the first star the Toronto Raptors have been linked to ahead of the trade deadline.
The Raptors are reportedly ‘a team to watch’ for a Brandon Ingram trade per NBA insider Marc Stein.
Have you subscribed to the Raptors Nation YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
