Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors landed Bruce Brown in the trade that sent Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers, but they may flip him prior to Thursday's deadline.

Michael Grange of Sportsnet reported the New York Knicks are seen as "a possible or even likely landing spot, with Evan Fournier and his contract as the matching piece." He also noted Toronto wants a first-round pick in a deal for Brown and has already received such an offer.

Yet there is something of a "sticking point" between the two teams, as Grange described.

New York would want to trade one of the first-round picks it owns for the 2024 NBA draft (its own and the Dallas Mavericks' selection), while the Raptors want a future first-rounder. Toronto is already lined up to have four of the top 31 picks in this year's draft, but the Knicks see future draft picks as important if they are going to trade for a star during the offseason.

That leaves Brown's status hanging in the balance ahead of Thursday's deadline, but he isn't letting it get to him.

"Not even thinking about it, to be honest," Brown said. "I'm just trying to control what I can control, and I can't control that end of it."

The 27-year-old is something of a do-everything role player who just helped the Denver Nuggets win the championship last season. He thrived playing alongside Nikola Jokić and is someone who could take advantage of the additional opportunities created by the defensive attention Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle draw in New York.

He is averaging 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from deep this season. He is also versatile enough to either fit in as part of the starting lineup or anchor the secondary unit.

From Toronto's perspective, Brown is under contract for this season with a club option for the 2024-25 campaign. Even if it picked up his option, the team likely won't be a true contender during that time frame.

That means there should be plenty of motivation to move him before the deadline, although there figures to be additional negotiating when it comes to the year of any first-round draft pick included in the deal.

For the first time in his career, Fred VanVleet faced off against the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

VanVleet's efficient night helped the Houston Rockets cruise to a 135-106 win over the Raptors, a team that he spent seven years with prior to the 2023-24 season. He was a crucial part of the rotation for several of Toronto's playoff teams, averaging 14.0 points per game during the Raptors' NBA Finals victory in 2019.

In 25 minutes on Friday, VanVleet scored 10 points and dished out six assists compared to just one turnover. He shot 57.1 percent from the field, hitting two of his four attempts from behind the arc.

Raptors fans applauded VanVleet for his time spent with the organization, while Rockets fans were impressed with his efficient night.

The Rockets improved to 23-25 after the win as head coach Ime Udoka's team attempts to re-enter the Play-In Tournament picture in the Western Conference. As for Toronto, the Raptors fell to 17-31 and have now lost eight of their last 10 games.

Toronto Raptors swingman Bruce Brown is a popular name as the Feb. 8 trade deadline draws nearer, and the team is reportedly hoping for a substantial return in a deal for him.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri "continues to search for a first-round pick as the centerpiece" in any trade involving Brown. The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers were mentioned as potential suitors.

The Raptors have been the most active team on the trade market this season, shipping away key pieces OG Anunoby to the Knicks and Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers. As Toronto looks to be on the verge of a rebuild, it makes sense that the franchise is looking to stockpile draft assets.

Brown began the 2023-24 season in Indiana, starting all 33 of his appearances and averaging 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists before being sent to the Raptors in the Siakam deal. In six games with three starts in Toronto, he's averaged 11.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

The veteran wing is highly regarded as a glue guy who provides production on both ends of the floor, but the Raptors' high asking price could diminish the interest from other teams. Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer recently reported that the Lakers' interest in him is waning.

"It's been reported that the Lakers have interest in Raptors wing Bruce Brown, whom they pursued in free agency last summer. My understanding recently is that interest in Brown is muted due to high demands from Toronto," O'Connor stated.

Brown is one of the most coveted players on the trade market, so it will be interesting to see if the Raptors reduce their asking price as they try to build for the future.

The Toronto Raptors are reportedly expected to remain active in trade talks ahead of next month's deadline.

Josh Lewenberg of TSN reported the Raptors are "open for business" after trading OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam over the last month. Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett are seen as the only three players on the roster Masai Ujiri would not consider moving.

Toronto has several veteran players with manageable contracts who could help contenders down the stretch. Gary Trent, Jakob Poeltl, Bruce Brown, Chris Boucher and Dennis Schroder could all see their name in rumors over the next couple of weeks.

Trent and Brown are the likeliest candidates to be moved given their contract situations. Trent is a free agent at the end of this season and Brown's contract carries a team option for 2024-25, essentially making him an expiring as well. Schroder has a guaranteed $13 million salary for next season, and Poeltl is under contract through 2026-27.

After years of treading water in the aftermath of Kawhi Leonard's departure for Los Angeles in 2019, the Raptors are finally embarking on a much-needed rebuild. They acquired three first-round picks from the Pacers in the Siakam trade and landed two promising young players in Barrett and Quickley for Anunoby.

The price won't be as high for the remaining players on the roster, but if they can get a couple of seconds or a highly protected first-round pick for a role player, Ujiri likely won't hesitate to pull the trigger.

Toronto Raptors wing RJ Barrett laughed off criticism directed his way from New York Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony.

On his 7PM in Brooklyn show, Anthony called Barrett "just a bland player," both in terms of his personality and his lack of consistency on the court.

Barrett responded by calling the comments "funny," per Peter Botte and Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.

"Because the next day I had four points," he said. "The game before I had 24, so he was almost right. … He's a Hall of Famer, man."

Barrett first referenced Toronto's 145-113 loss to the Utah Jazz, which saw him shoot 2-of-9 from the floor for four points. Two nights before, he had 24 points. Three nights later, he had 24 points again. His performances almost fit Anthony's critique to a T.

In terms of the bigger picture, Barrett's four-plus seasons with the Knicks probably won't be the source of many fond memories, either. The 23-year-old showed some flashes in New York but failed to make a superstar leap.

Perhaps returning to his hometown and escaping the regular scrutiny that comes with playing for the Knicks will help Barrett chart a new path for his career.

The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks "have been frequently mentioned as likely suitors" for Toronto Raptors wing Bruce Brown, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Brown was included in Toronto's return from the Pascal Siakam trade with the Indiana Pacers last week. Stein reported the team might be willing to flip him for "a future first-round pick and a quality player … at a minimum."

Between his spells with the Pacers and Raptors, Brown is averaging 12.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 35 games. His three-point shooting (32.1 percent) has dipped a bit compared to the last few years, but his 47.9 overall clip basically matches his career average (48.2).

The 27-year-old is more valuable to the Raptors as a trade asset rather than an on-court contributor.

If Toronto isn't in an outright rebuild, then the organization is at least in a transitional phase that will probably take a few years. Brown has a club option for 2024-25 before he's eligible for free agency in 2025. It's difficult to envision the Raptors meaningfully contending before then, so they may as well explore his trade market.

The versatile 6'4" guard/forward demonstrated last year how valuable he can be for a team with championship aspirations. He averaged 12 points and four rebounds during the Denver Nuggets' NBA Finals run, and his switchability on defense allowed Denver to play smaller lineups and exploit mismatches on the other end of the floor.

Brown has already stated the case for why he'd be a nice fit on the Knicks.

"I am a dog," he said to the New York Post's Jared Schwartz. "I play extremely hard on both ends of the floor. I can do just about whatever [head coach Tom Thibodeau] needs me to do."

His arrival would also help to replenish some of the backcourt depth New York lost by trading both RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley in order to land OG Anunoby.

When it comes to the Lakers, acquiring a three-and-D wing would be a massive help when they're 13th in defensive rating (113.9) and 18th in three-point percentage (36.0), per NBA.com.

Adding Brown alone probably won't significantly improve Los Angeles' championship odds, though. He's simply not that kind of difference-maker.

L.A. might require a wider reshuffle like general manager Rob Pelinka executed ahead of last year's trade deadline, and that's even more difficult to execute now when he has fewer trade chips at his disposal.

The Toronto Raptors have been active in the trade market already this season, but they could be making a few more moves before the trade deadline.

Per Action Network's Matt Moore, those moves won't involve a select group of players. According to Moore, the Raptors have made Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl untouchable.

"They're not done," Moore wrote. "Word is that everyone who isn't Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, or Jakob Poeltl is available. The Raptors want to reset their timeline in terms of the age of their players. Curiously, Poeltl is 28."

Besides those players, it seems the Raptors are willing to move anyone. Moore said that Gary Trent Jr. has emerged as a piece Toronto would likely trade.

"Gary Trent Jr. is the name most frequently discussed, with the Lakers and Nets among the teams with interest," Moore wrote.

It's not surprising that the Raptors are making Barnes untouchable. The third-year forward is averaging 20.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists at just 22 years old and seems like a necessary piece for Toronto's future.

In terms of Quickley and Barrett, the Raptors traded OG Anunoby for the duo just a few weeks ago and aren't ready to part with them just yet.

Poeltl, who is 28, has emerged as a reliable starting big man for the Raptors, averaging 10.6 points and 8.3 rebounds and bringing a veteran presence to a young team.

Toronto is on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture. The Raptors sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference at 16-27, but with the right move, they could surge in the second half of the season and make a push to reach the postseason.

The Toronto Raptors will face the New York Knicks on Saturday for the first time since the blockbuster OG Anunoby trade, and one player who was shipped north of the border in the deal is feeling particularly emotional about his return to Madison Square Garden.

"I'm gonna try not to cry," Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley told reporters prior to tip-off. "But it'll be a good one"

The Raptors sent Anunoby, Malachi Flynn and Precious Achiuwa to the Knicks last month in exchange for Quickley, Toronto native RJ Barrett and a 2024 second-round draft pick.

Quickley had spent the first three and a half seasons of his career in New York after being selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2020 draft and being sent to the Knicks as part of a three-team trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The 24-year-old had proven to be a valuable member off the bench for New York and numerous Knicks fans mourned his departure in the trade.

Quickley was putting together his best season with the franchise prior to the deal, averaging 15.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 30 games while shooting 45.4 percent from the floor and 39.5 percent from deep.

That said, the Maryland native has taken on a larger role in Toronto and serves as the team's starting point guard in a lineup that includes Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent Jr. and Jakob Poeltl.

In 10 games with the Raptors, the Kentucky product is averaging 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists while shooting 42.3 percent from the floor and 45.2 percent from beyond the arc.

While Quickley will be holding back the tears on Saturday night, he'll surely try to put together a strong performance against his former team as the Raptors look to secure just their 17th win of the season.

Pascal Siakam is off to Indiana, but before he officially embarks on his journey with the Pacers, the veteran forward had to take the time to thank the Toronto Raptors for the first seven and a half years of his career.

Siakam posted a video to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday bidding farewell to the Raptors and discussing his tenure with the franchise. Towards the end of the video (3:30 mark), the 29-year-old said he thought he was going to spend his entire career in Toronto.

Siakam said:

I couldn't imagine playing for any other team than the Toronto Raptors. That's something that I didn't even dare to think about because I didn't really imagine myself playing somewhere else and the moment I had to start thinking about it was probably one of the hardest times because in my head it was difficult to just think about the idea of leaving. That's no disrespect, it's just I never thought about it. It never crossed my mind because I thought I'd be a Raptor forever." 

After months of trade rumors and speculation, the Raptors sent Siakam to the Pacers this week in exchange for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora and three first-round picks.

Siakam is set to become a free agent this summer and is due for a major contract extension that the Raptors were unlikely to dish out.

The 2016 first-round pick helped lead the Raptors to an NBA title in 2019, and he also earned two All-Star selections and two All-NBA selections during his tenure with the franchise.

Now heading to Indiana, Siakam is said to be "excited about the deal to the Pacers and expected to be eager to work out a new contract with the franchise this summer," according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Siakam now joins a solid Indiana rotation that's headlined by Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner. If he inks an extension and remains with the Pacers beyond 2024, the trio will face high expectations to win a championship.

The Toronto Raptors reportedly haven't second-guessed their decision to hold onto guard Fred VanVleet last season before losing him to the Houston Rockets in free agency.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Raptors are not "awash in regret" over opting against trading VanVleet since the offers they received prior to last season's trade deadline were "underwhelming."

The Raptors chose to be buyers at last year's deadline by adding center Jakob Poeltl, and they gambled on possibly being able to re-sign VanVleet in free agency, but he instead inked a three-year, $128.5 million contract with the Rockets.

Stein noted that the Raptors could have made a trade like VanVleet to the Los Angeles Clippers for Luke Kennard and a "modest measure of draft compensation," but the organization decided it was better to try to go on a playoff run with VanVleet, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.

That didn't work out, as Toronto went 41-41 and lost in the postseason play-in tournament, spelling the end of VanVleet and head coach Nick Nurse's tenures with the Raptors.

Per Stein, the VanVleet situation likely influenced the Raptors to act early on Siakam and Anunoby, both of whom are likely to become free agents during the offseason.

Toronto dealt Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to the New York Knicks for R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a second-round pick last month, and this week they traded Siakam to the Indiana Pacers as part of a three-team deal, bringing back Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, Kira Lewis Jr. and three first-round picks.

By trading Siakam and Anunoby, the Raptors put themselves in a position where Gary Trent Jr., Thaddeus Young and Otto Porter Jr. are their only impending unrestricted free agents of consequence.

Also, since they made the moves so early, they have plenty of time to possibly ship those players out as well.

Toronto has acquired a good amount of draft capital, plus it has a young core it can build around led by Barnes, Barrett and Quickley.

Trading VanVleet may have given the Raptors a couple of more pieces to work with, but it is understandable why the Raptors were reluctant.

The front office likely knew last season would be the last year with its core group in place, and it had the talent to go on a playoff run, even if things didn't work out.

Also, VanVleet is among the most important players in franchise history, as he spent his first seven seasons in Toronto and blossomed into an All-Star despite being undrafted, which is a rarity in the NBA.

He also helped bring the Raptors their first and only NBA championship in 2019, and now Chris Boucher is the only player from that team still on the roster.