The Toronto Raptors’ primary offseason objective is to secure the long-term services of their dynamic point guard, Immanuel Quickley, who joined the team following the OG Anunoby-New York Knicks trade. Quickley showcased considerable potential during his debut season with the Raptors, demonstrating his offensive prowess and improved playmaking abilities compared to his tenure with the Knicks. Toronto is determined to retain Quickley, willing to offer him a lucrative, multi-year contract.
However, the Raptors are also exploring the possibility of acquiring Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks to complement their burgeoning young roster. Murray’s tenure with the Hawks has been underwhelming, primarily due to the team’s lack of success despite his contributions on the court. Initially brought in to bolster the backcourt alongside Trae Young, Murray has been shifted to an off-ball role at shooting guard.
While Murray’s arrival was anticipated to elevate the Hawks to postseason contention, their results have fallen short of expectations, culminating in consecutive play-in tournament exits in 2023 and 2024. With Atlanta potentially reconsidering their strategy, Toronto sees an opportunity to capitalize on the situation and acquire Murray to bolster their roster.
A hypothetical trade between Atlanta and Toronto could involve a package of Hawks players to facilitate Murray’s move to the Raptors, accelerating Toronto’s development and strengthening their core.
Bruce Brown’s tenure with the Toronto Raptors following the Pascal Siakam trade has been marked by struggles to find his rhythm. With a hefty $23 million player option for the upcoming season, his value appears inflated, posing a dilemma for the Raptors. Opting to decline his option and allowing him to enter free agency risks losing any potential return value. Conversely, retaining him in hopes of restoring his value entails significant risk, particularly if his performance mirrors his lackluster showing in Toronto’s previous season, potentially diminishing his trade value further.
Given these considerations, an offseason trade seems the most viable option for maximizing Brown’s value, as exemplified by a potential deal involving Dejounte Murray. While Brown may not drastically alter the game in Atlanta, his salary aligns with Murray’s contract, facilitating the transaction. Despite this, Brown remains a dependable rotation player, affording the Hawks the flexibility to retain him or utilize him as trade fodder to bolster their roster or acquire additional assets from contenders.
In exchange, Chris Boucher relocates to Atlanta, concluding a tumultuous season where he struggled to secure consistent minutes under Darko Rajaković. The inclusion of a first-round pick from Indiana and a second-rounder enhances the deal, providing extra draft capital to sweeten the offer. However, to ensure competitiveness, the Raptors may need to augment their proposal with additional draft picks. Nonetheless, this constitutes the core package they are prepared to offer.
As for the Raptors’ perspective on the deal, it presents an opportunity to reshape their roster and potentially acquire a key contributor like Dejounte Murray, addressing their needs while optimizing their assets.
The Toronto Raptors are poised to acquire a star-caliber guard in Dejounte Murray through the proposed deal. However, in addition to Murray, the Raptors could also reap the benefits of acquiring underutilized forward AJ Griffin. As the son of former Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin, AJ showed promise during his rookie campaign with the Hawks in the 2022-23 season, averaging over eight points and two rebounds while shooting 39% from beyond the arc. Despite his potential, AJ’s playing time significantly dwindled in the subsequent season, suggesting an opportunity for a fresh start and potential growth within Toronto’s developmental system, akin to the trajectory of Ochai Agbaji, acquired via trade last season.
Pairing Murray with Immanuel Quickley in the backcourt offers a compelling dynamic. Quickley’s evolution as a playmaker could see him assume primary ball-handling duties, yet his sharpshooting abilities also position him favorably at the shooting guard spot. Whether Toronto opts to experiment with Murray leading the charge or maintains Quickley’s role, the potential guard tandem presents a cohesive pairing, contrasting with Murray’s prior partnership with Trae Young in Atlanta.
The addition of Murray and Griffin augurs well for Toronto’s future aspirations, potentially revitalizing the team’s playoff fortunes. With a prospective starting lineup featuring Murray, Quickley, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, and Jakob Poeltl, complemented by a formidable bench comprising players like Kelly Olynyk, Gradey Dick, AJ Griffin, and Ochai Agbaji, the Raptors could emerge as a sleeper contender in the Eastern Conference. Furthermore, augmenting their roster with additional talent in free agency could further bolster their competitiveness for the upcoming season.
