![[Scotto] The Toronto Raptors and Jaden Bradley have agreed to a two-way deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Bradley was the 50th pick of the 2026 NBA Draft out of Arizona, where he was the Big 12 Player of the Year.](https://preview.redd.it/x3mipr0kcabh1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=602df15a7c91501b8c60e94e064c9a846bf94070)
This means they will use that 14th spot on a FA.
We should add him to our coaching staff ngl
this was on the podcast before the trade happened.
League sources told @ClutchPoints that negotiations between the Clippers and Raptors involving Kawhi Leonard are ongoing.
The framework of Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and a 1st-round pick going to LA is said to be agreed upon, but the Clippers have still been pushing for more value.
Sources say the Clippers have been trying to add Jamal Shead in the package as well. LA views him as extra value needed for taking Gradey Dick in the deal.
Draft compensation is the other hold up in negotiations right now. Raptors are wanting to give up an immediate first (2027/2028) instead of one in the future. Clippers have wanted two firsts, one being in the future, especially if Shead is not included.
Whether it's an additional first, a swap, the inclusion of Shead, or some combination of this, the Clippers are still pushing for more than what was originally offered to finalize a trade involving Kawhi Leonard returning to Toronto.
LA and Toronto discussed a deal over the last couple of weeks, as Leonard's reps informed other teams he only wanted to sign an extension with the Raptors if the Clippers were not going to keep him, sources said. He had preferred to stay with the Clippers, but the franchise made no long-term commitments to him this offseason, sources said. Leonard has only the 2026-27 season left on his contract at $50.3 million.
Seems like again raps were interested and have been for years, but had a price point they wouldn’t go past, if they really want to upgrade without paying so much, might as well go after Ja who you can get for Pennies
Other notes:
In addition, the Bucks' trading of Antetokounmpo could have a domino effect, with Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown reportedly a trade target after he was offered to Milwaukee in a potential deal, and the Bucks are clearly open for business after moving on from their long-standing franchise superstar.
NBA sources I’ve spoken with have connected the Raptors to Bucks centre Myles Turner, with the possibility that Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl, third-year wing Gradey Dick and potentially draft compensation being the core of a deal that would net Toronto the veteran big with credentials as a rim protector and three-point threat.
Keeping Mamukelashvili will likely require the Raptors to cut ties with Dick, their 13th pick in the 2023 draft, who is looking for a change of address in any case after falling out of the rotation after the all-star break. And until Toronto reaches an agreement on an extension with RJ Barrett — talks will likely be picked up at Summer League in Las Vegas next month — the future of the Canadian national team star with Canada’s lone NBA team will remain a question mark as he heads into the last year of his deal.
The Raptors first-round pick is on the books, but the rest of their off-season is a series of chapters yet to be written.
The Toronto Raptors are a true wild card in this spot of the draft. While many expect them to target backcourt depth, adding another shooting option for Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, executive Bobby Webster always tends to surprise many when it comes to drafting for the future. And credit to him, as he has found some incredible long-term players in recent years, notably Collin Murray-Boyles.
This year, the Raptors are being linked to over 10 different players in this spot, including senior sharpshooter Bennett Stirtz. Although he may be 22 years old and turning 23 by the start of the 2026-27 season, Stirtz offers a lot on the offensive end of the court. A lot of scouts are saying Stirtz has thrived in workouts, shooting off the ball, and it is looking likely that he will be selected before Ebuka Okorie, Meleek Thomas, and Christian Anderson in that second wave of guards in this draft.
Toronto and Detroit have been the two most mentioned teams when it comes to Stirtz, as have the Hawks with the No. 23 pick. As for the Raptors themselves, they have been mentioned by league sources as a trade suitor to move around in this draft. Nobody really knows where they will go with this selection, but Stirtz would offer immediate shooting production and the skills of a lead guard off the bench.
Other Info:
Graves is drawing interest all over the 10-to-20 range, with the Toronto Raptors at the 19th pick currently viewed as his floor. He may not be on the board for the Raptors, though, especially if the Thunder stay in this spot at 17th overall. His hybrid play as a forward who can really play anywhere makes Graves a plug-and-play player right away during his rookie season. Another team mentioned frequently for Graves, along with the Thunder and Raptors, is the Spurs.
From the article:
A number of contractual commitments that had the Raptors hemmed in at the trade deadline could continue to be obstacles as they try to optimize a roster around Scottie Barnes, who showed superstar stuff against the Cavs. He served as a defensive game-breaker, primary playmaker and leading scorer, averaging 24.1 points, 8.6 assists and 6.1 rebounds in the series.
As an example, leading up to trade deadline in February, the Raptors were working hard to try and make a deal that would land them Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies before he was ultimately traded to the Utah Jazz in a package that included three first round picks, according to multiple league sources. The sticking point was finding someone to take on Jakob Poeltl’s four years and $104 million the 30-year-old has owed to him.
other tidbits:
The Raptors could likely free up more money by trading 2023 first-round pick Gradey Dick into another team’s cap space this summer, something the third-year wing would be amenable to, per sources, given he was locked out of meaningful minutes after the all-star break.
Add it all up and it’s a bit of a tricky spot: the Raptors have gotten better, Barnes has taken a leap and the expectations are only going to be higher from here.
But their financial maneuverability remains limited and whatever moves they make can’t easily be sold as lateral or taking one step back to take two forward in the future.