The Toronto Raptors have their sights set on making a real run over the next few seasons, and this summer was about putting the right pieces in place. They already made the biggest move available to them by bringing in Kawhi Leonard, the kind of star the franchise was trying to land after winning the NBA Finals in 2019 and then slipping out of serious contention.
That Leonard addition, though, came with a catch this week. Toronto announced that he would be out for at least a week because of swelling in his left knee. Leonard was a late scratch from Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the team said the tests showed there was no acute injury in the knee.
If the Raptors are looking to keep pushing their chips in, another name has been floated as a possible next move: Jrue Holiday. CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn pointed to Toronto as one of the teams that could make sense for the veteran guard, whose résumé already includes two NBA championships and an All-Star nod.
“Anywhere. There is not a team in the history of basketball that would not be improved by Jrue Holiday's presence.
Low-maintenance offense, still strong defense and an all-time teammate. Take your pick on who can fit the salary.
The usual suspects (Detroit, Toronto, Miami) all make sense, but the true answer is probably everyone,” Quinn wrote.
Holiday would give Toronto more on the floor, but he’d also bring something just as valuable to a younger group: experience. With two titles already on his résumé, he’s been through the grind of winning at the highest level, and that kind of presence would fit naturally alongside a roster trying to climb back into contention.
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Blue Jays Prospects Are Sending Very Different AFL Signals
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Jake Bloss has provided a different kind of subplot, starting strong before one rough outing sent his numbers in the wrong direction. Even so, the right-hander is still working back into a rhythm after a long stretch away from game action, and the bigger question for Toronto is less about one fall league line than whether he can keep building toward a fuller return next season. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Linked To Risky Trade Idea Fans Will Debate
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Still, this is exactly the sort of move that would spark a long debate inside the organization and among fans, because the upside comes with real risk. Toronto would have to weigh the cost in prospects and roster flexibility against the possibility that Abrams value is driven more by the bat than the glove, and that balance is what makes the idea so intriguing rather than straightforward. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Left Field Search Comes With One Big Ian Happ Catch
Torontos search for a steady answer in left field keeps circling back to Ian Happ, and its easy to see why. The veteran just wrapped his 10th season with the Cubs, and even in a year when his bat was uneven, he still offered the kind of defensive reliability that clubs value when they are trying to tighten up the outfield. For a Blue Jays team looking for more consistency on the grass, Happ brings a track record that makes him a legitimate fit on paper.
The catch is that the profile is not a simple one. Happ still handled fastballs well, but he had trouble against right-handed pitching and off-speed stuff, which leaves Toronto weighing how much offensive bounce-back there might be if he changes scenery. If the Blue Jays are going to make him part of the lineup picture, they would be betting on a player whose glove remains a major asset while the bat still has something to prove. [Read more 🡒]