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Following the acquisition of Barrett and Quickley for Anunoby, four NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype were surprised Toronto opted for Barrett instead of more future draft picks and other salary fillers such as Fournier, etc.
While several executives around the league viewed Barrett as a neutral trade asset, the Raptors are hopeful Barrett’s homecoming can help him take another step forward in his development.
Barrett will become the eighth Canadian to play for the Raptors, joining Jamaal Magloire, Cory Joseph, Anthony Bennett, Oshae Brissett, Khem Birch, Dalano Banton, and Chris Boucher.
As for Quickley, the Knicks were far apart on extension talks offering only around $18 million annually while Quickley wanted $25 million or more, as previously reported on HoopsHype. Looking ahead to free agency in the summer of 2024, Quickley should cost less than Anunoby, and having his restricted free agent rights ensures Toronto can match any offer for him without fear of losing him for nothing after watching Fred VanVleet walk for nothing last summer in unrestricted free agency.
“Quickley is the perfect pairing next to Scottie Barnes because of the shooting and floor spacing he’ll provide,” an NBA executive told HoopsHype.
The 24-year-old guard is averaging career highs in points (15.0), field goal percentage (45.4) and 3-point field goal percentage (39.5) this season.
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Following the trade of Anunoby and acquisitions of Barrett and Quickley – two young players who can be retained for the foreseeable future – rival executives have begun wondering aloud where two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam could be headed and what would it take to land him in a trade before the deadline?
Toronto previously passed on three first-round picks for Anunoby at the trade deadline last year, and given the acquisitions of Barrett and Quickley, it appears the Raptors are valuing young players with upside over strictly draft pick compensation, given the weak draft classes over the next two draft classes overall.
So who could fit that mold for Siakam?
In previous talks with the Atlanta Hawks surrounding Siakam, Jalen Johnson was a player Toronto coveted, league sources told HoopsHype. However, the Hawks would ideally like to retain the 22-year-old forward amid his breakout campaign averaging 14 points on 58 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from downtown with 7.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game.
Meanwhile, the Pacers had continued to express interest in both Anunoby and Siakam before Anunoby was traded to New York. Indiana’s Jarace Walker, the No. 8 pick of the draft, seemingly fits the mold of a young controllable asset with upside that Toronto likes and his lack of frontcourt rotational minutes has some around the league wondering if Indiana would part with him.
The Kings have also been linked to Siakam in the past, but Sacramento has been unwilling to part with former No. 4 pick Keegan Murray in trade conversations.
While gauging Siakam’s value, Toronto must decide if paying the 29-year-old forward a max contract or close to it makes the most sense for their new timeline, or if dealing him now before losing him for nothing to another team in free agency similar to Anunoby.
Last but not least, Toronto created a $4.3 million trade exception and is now $1.95 million below the luxury tax, which will be a figure worth watching heading into the trade deadline.
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