NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on The Stein Line (subscription required) that the Toronto Raptors are open to trading either RJ Barrett or Immanuel Quickley for a "significant roster upgrade." He notes that Jakob Poeltl could also be available, under the condition that it lands them superstar Kevin Durant.
For the Portland Trail Blazers, Barrett is the player they should target.
RJ Barrett could be the missing piece in Portland's wing trio
Barrett is underrated in the sense that he's not an All-Star-level talent, but he should be considered in the tier of players just below that -- the tier that doesn't get talked about enough. He's quietly a 20-point-per-game scorer contributing elsewhere as a versatile 6-foot-6 wing. He's been reliable for the Raptors, averaging 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists on 47/35/63 shooting splits this past season.
Portland's roster strength lies in its depth, but to compete for a playoff spot, they must upgrade their starting lineup. Should the Blazers acquire him, he also would compete with Deni Avdija for the title of best player on their roster. FanSided's NBA 99 player rankings have Barrett at No. 62 and Avdija at No. 73 (just one spot ahead of Anfernee Simons).
A wing trio of Avdija, Barrett, and Toumani Camara would be extremely versatile on both sides. At 25 years old, Barrett aligns with their timeline. Even better, their ability to play multiple positions makes it so that it wouldn't significantly cut into the minutes or roles of their up-and-coming backcourt of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, as Chauncey Billups would have plenty of flexibility with his rotations.
What do the Blazers have to offer?
The Blazers have several veterans on their roster that should be deemed expendable, given where they are in their rebuild. That could make them an ideal trade partner with the Raptors, who have already made it clear in their deadline trade for Brandon Ingram that they are trying to win now.
The exact details of what Portland should send over depend on the likely third team involved in such a deal. If it is Durant heading to Toronto, then Robert Williams III or Deandre Ayton make sense to be involved, sending one over to whichever team doesn't have Poeltl. Anfernee Simons could be viewed as a replacement for Quickley if they want to reshape their roster that way. And the defensive-minded Matisse Thybulle is a perfect fit for any team looking to win now.
However, the most important asset the Blazers have to offer is their draft capital, including the No. 11 pick in this upcoming draft. The Raptors are looking for more immediate upgrades, but it would be much easier to land that if the Blazers are sending over picks to that other team.
Last summer's steal for Deni Avdija has proven that general manager Joe Cronin is not afraid to include picks in a deal if it's the right fit. Could Barrett be this summer's version of that? It ultimately depends on what Toronto is asking for in return. But it's in Portland's best interest to find out what that is.