The Raptors’ path to a meaningful upgrade may run through a player they’d probably prefer to keep.
Toronto’s lack of draft capital has become a real obstacle as the team looks for help around Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard. The current stretch has only sharpened the feeling that, at minimum, one of RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, or Jakob Poeltl’s spots needs to be upgraded if the Raptors are going to get where they want to go when healthy.
That’s where the math gets ugly. If Toronto wanted to swing a major deal, the cleanest picks it could offer are its 2027 first-rounder, which is subject to the Clippers’ swap rights, and its 2029 first-rounder. But putting both on the table would leave the Raptors without a first in two of the next three drafts.
That shortage is why rookie forward Allen Graves has entered the conversation as a possible trade chip. It’s not about disappointment in Graves or how he has started the season.
In fact, he’s been the kind of player Toronto tends to value. The issue is simpler than that: he might be one of the few assets the Raptors can realistically use to chase a win-now move.
Trading Graves over a future first-round pick may sound counterintuitive, especially since Toronto liked him in the draft process and likely views him as a long-term piece. But the uncertainty around future picks is exactly what makes this tricky. Injuries are always a factor, and the league’s new anti-tanking policy only adds another layer of caution when teams are deciding whether to part with draft capital.
There’s also the possibility that Toronto’s future looks different than it does right now. If Scottie Barnes were to miss significant time in a future season and the Raptors slipped out of the playoff picture, not having their own pick could hurt them badly. Moving a player who projects as a solid connective piece like Graves could be less damaging than giving up a pick that might become far more valuable later.
And Graves may already have enough appeal to bring back real value. He has shown he can extend possessions on the offensive glass and contribute as a connective offensive player, all while playing with a high motor. Young players who can fit into different styles without much fuss tend to draw interest, because they help now and can still matter later.
Toronto’s recent draft record only strengthens that case. For another front office, getting a young player from a team that has generally done well drafting in the Scottie Barnes era could make Graves even more attractive as trade currency.
The Raptors would almost certainly rather keep him. He has made a strong impression early in his time with the team, both as a player and as a person. But if Toronto is serious about upgrading its starting unit this season, Graves may be the kind of asset it has to consider moving.
In Other News...
Raptors Center Search Suddenly Has One Intriguing New Trade Target
Wendell Carter Jr. has quietly become one of the more interesting big men to watch around the league, and his season with the Orlando Magic has only sharpened that profile. For a Raptors team still sorting through its long-term answer in the middle, Carters blend of size, versatility and two-way usefulness makes him an easy name to circle when the conversation turns to possible upgrades.
The problem, as always, is getting from intrigue to reality. Toronto would have to navigate a tricky financial picture and the kind of salary-cap hurdles that can stall even a sensible idea before it gets off the ground, which is why this remains more of a future possibility than a live negotiation for now. Still, if the Magics direction changes or Toronto keeps looking for a center who fits multiple roles, Carters name is one that could linger on the Raptors radar. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Center Problem Could Put Nate Bittle In The Spotlight
Torontos center depth has become a real talking point, and Nate Bittle has surfaced as one of the more interesting names tied to it. Basketball analyst Sam Vecenie pointed to the two-way big man as a possible answer, which is notable given how much the Raptors have been looking for help in the middle. Bittles Summer League showing gave the idea some traction, with promising production across the board and enough rim protection to make him stand out.
The longer-term question is availability, because there is still no clear timetable for his return to play. That leaves the Raptors in a familiar holding pattern, weighing upside against uncertainty while trying to map out who can actually fill minutes at center. Bittles college background and his Summer League flashes make him worth watching, but for now the path from intriguing prospect to real rotation option remains unfinished. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Early Lineup Has One Big Bright Spot And One Real Concern
The Raptors 4-4 start has already offered a pretty clear snapshot of where this group stands in the early going, even with Kawhi Leonard sidelined by injury. Among the starters, Immanuel Quickley has been the most encouraging presence in terms of setting the table, while JaKobe Walter has given the lineup a boost with a career-best scoring stretch and Scottie Barnes has continued to look like the kind of all-around anchor Toronto needs.
The concern comes at the other end of the spectrum, where the early returns have been more uneven. RJ Barrett has found ways to score but has not yet solved the shooting issues that can stall the offense, and Jakob Poeltls start has been disappointing enough to stand out on a team still trying to settle into its identity. For a Raptors group that needs its starting five to pull in the same direction, the early balance between promise and problem is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]