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The NBA’s trade deadline is less than three weeks away. That means it’s time for our biannual trade tier column.

This is different from the previous six. Sure, the Toronto Raptors play-in he can make a move that increases his chances of seeding the tournament, but their position as potential sellers making the most difference puts them in an enviable position. I’m here. We’ll explore that further next week but the conditions are in place to allow the market to act as a seller a hypothetical large board of realistic trading targets at the deadline top 12 or so to he will have four starters. And there are far more buyers than sellers – at least there should be.

As a reminder, I categorized each player into groups corresponding to the scenarios in which he was most likely to be traded. Groups are not ranked by the likelihood that each scenario will unfold. However, within each group, higher-listed players are more likely to be traded, and lower-listed players are less likely to move. (All salary details include this season.)

Other Raptors Trade Deadline content: Sellers Part 1 | Sellers Part 2 | Fred VanVleet Conundrum

barely touchable

Scotty Barnes (3 years, $25.79 million, team option 2024-25, extension eligible 2024, potential restricted free agent 2025)

The best thing about the last ten or so games of this disappointing Raptors season is seeing Scotty Barnes once again impact the game in many ways. As a force to be reckoned with, Barnes is once again showing his potential every game. Barnes is averaging 17.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks over his last 10 games, heading into Thursday’s contest in Minnesota. He was probably the best Raptor in that stretch.

I stuck “almost” in there to acknowledge how weird this season has been from the team’s perspective. The Raptors should have been humbled to the point that nothing was completely off the table. The most likely outcome is for the Raptors to offer him a maximum value extension two summers from now and Barnes to remain a Raptor for a long time.

why do we give him up?

Precious Achiuwa (2 years, $7.22 million remaining, subject to extension in 2023, RFA/UFA in 2024)

Christian Koloko (3 years, $5.24 million remaining, no warranty 2024-25, possible RFA in 2025)

Achiuwa has yet to show he can be a league starter, but after his great play late last year and his return from an ankle injury, the Raptors should keep him around for a little longer.Raptors president Masai Ujiri said it still sees Toronto as the “team of the future,” and Achiuwa could be a meaningful part of it by improving its huge defensive skill set and offensive decision-making. .

More importantly, the Raptors aren’t likely to be in win-now mode at this deadline, so they shouldn’t be in the position of having to add sweets to close the deal. , Achiuwa is the best player the Raptors still have on a rookie deal. I’d bet an extension would happen this offseason just because the Raptors are in a state of uncertainty right now, but that could change.

Coloco, who has provided above-average utility as a second-round pick, is unlikely to move due to his relatively low salary.

I don’t have a preference, but if you give me your best suggestion, I’ll consider it.

OG Anunoby (3 years, $55.93 million remaining, includes player options for 2024-25)

Pascal Siakam (2 years, $73.34 million remaining)

Both Raptors forwards are eligible for an extension this offseason. But given Anunoby doesn’t qualify for supermax, the Raptors could offer him a starting salary of around $22.4 million and a raise of up to 8%. If he was an unrestricted free agent this summer, some teams would offer him at least $30 million for his first year salary, but that’s conservative. If so, his starting salary would be 35% of the salary cap instead of 30%.

Anyway, Anunoby is likely to move to Deadline mainly for a number of reasons, is easier to incorporate into a mid-season offense, and earns half Siakam’s value, barring any unforeseen circumstances. is unlikely to change dramatically between now and summer. San Antonio, Detroit, Houston, Charlotte, etc., are impossible for Toronto to “catch” in the lottery standings if you’re worried the Raptors will win too many games against him. More likely to fall somewhere in his 5-9 range. Having the best possible lottery positioning is clearly beneficial from a single-season standpoint, but it’s more about the floor than the ceiling.

Digression. I bet either Siakam or Anunoby will miss the deadline, but the latter is more realistic than the former.

Gary Trent Jr. (Nathan Ray Siebeck/USA Today)

one of these two may be working

Gary Trent Jr. (2 years, $35.84 million remaining, includes 2023-24 player option)

Fred VanVleet (2 years, $44.08 million remaining, includes player option for 2023-24)

Yes, the salary cap has been raised and will continue to rise as new TV contracts are renewed. In the long run, it will be a big obstacle for the team.

That said, we expect the Raptors to be just around $18 million below the luxury tax threshold next season, and assuming they let Thaddeus Young into free agency, that’s both Trent Jr. and VanVleet. does not account for the possibility of opting out. And neither signing for a higher salary nor the possibility of the Raptors bringing in a high or medium lottery nomination is included.

After years of development struggles, the Raptors need more contributors on lighter contracts.Trading for Trent Jr. or VanVleet is the easiest way to get these pieces. He’s already written about how complicated VanVleet’s situation is. So while we have Torrent as a player likely to move, it’s likely closer than some might think.

A useful veteran attractive to competitors

Thaddeus Young (2 years, $16.1 million remaining, only $1 million in 2023-24 warranty)

Chris Boucher (3 years, $35.25 million remaining)

Neither of these players will ever win the first round on their own. But we could see multiple teams looking at Young and Boucher and believing they could help them in a deeper role this year. I think he’s less likely to transfer than Young, who can be seen as having a contract that’s almost expiring.

The Raptors shouldn’t feel pressured to move on from any of these players, but it wouldn’t be unreasonable to move them for a second-round pick and a salary to match.

make math work

Khem Birch (2 years, $13.65 million remaining)

Otto Porter Jr. (2 years, $12.3 million remaining, includes player option for 2023-24)

Malachi Flynn (2 years, $6.02 million remaining, eligible for extension this offseason, RFA/UFA in 2024)

Juancho Hernangomez (1 year, $1.84 million remaining)

Darano Banton (1 year, $1.56 million remaining, RFA/UFA in 2023)

Frankly, there was no reason not to rank these players by their salaries. The Raptors would be open to letting Banton’s experiment continue for another year or two, and an injured Porter could be a meaningful contributor at a good price next year. This does not prevent you from doing

Other assets

Cold cash (up to $6.36 million)

Second-round pick (2023, 2025-29)

Own first-round pick (2023-29)

As for a suitable future piece, we got to see the Raptors swap picks. Also, cash can oil the wheels of the deal. What are your thoughts on monthly cable payments to help Masai Ujiri?

(Photo: Mark Brinch/Getty Images)

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