By now you've heard the news, Kevin Durant has reportedly requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets.
Durant's request has sent shockwaves through the NBA and teams are certainly reconsidering their free agency plans with hopes that maybe, just maybe they can spring a trade to acquire the two-time Finals MVP.
The Suns and Heat are reportedly at the top of the Durant wish list, but what about the Raptors? Could Masai Ujiri swing in and once again scoop up a big fish no one expected he would get?
To get Durant, who by the way is one of the three best players in the league, still in his prime and under contract until the 2025-26 season, the Raptors would certainly have to part with a key piece.
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If the Nets take the Raptors' phone call and start the discussion at wanting reigning Rookie of the Year, Scottie Barnes, does Toronto make a move?
We asked our NBA.com staff what they would do if they were the Raptors GM faced with that tough decision.
Should the Raptors trade Scottie Barnes for Kevin Durant?
Micah Adams (@MicahAdams13): Absolutely.
There's a world in which Scottie Barnes makes 10 All-Star teams and becomes the best player in a loaded 2021 draft class. That's also exactly why the Raptors should do it.
From the Nets' perspective, Barnes might be the single best asset they can get for Durant. A package built around Barnes and picks would potentially allow Toronto to add Durant while holding onto Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and maybe even OG Anunoby. That team is good enough to contend for a championship not only in 2023 but in all four years remaining on Durant's contract.
Masai Ujiri swung for the fences with Kawhi Leonard in the summer of 2018 knowing he might only get one shot at winning it all. With Durant, he gets four bites at the apple with perhaps the world's best overall player still at the peak of his powers.
As it stands right now, even a Barnes ascent to stardom doesn't guarantee true title contention. But trading Barnes for Durant catapults Toronto right back into the mix.
Carlan Gay (@TheCarlanGay): As much as I love Scottie Barnes, I'd have to agree with Micah. The answer is yes.
We're talking Kevin Durant here. Kevin Durant's don't grow on trees. Barnes had a great season and may even have a great career, but we're talking about a player in Durant who's one of the 15 best players in the history of the game.
It hurt when the Raptors gave up DeMar DeRozan for one season of Kawhi Leonard, but it turned into the greatest season in franchise history. Durant would be in Toronto potentially until 2025-26. That's a long time and a whole lot of winning opportunities.
This is a no-brainer to me.
Kyle Irving (@KyleIrv_): I can't believe I'm about to say this, but no, the Raptors should not trade Barnes for Durant.
And it's because it goes deeper than just Barnes for Durant. The Nets are reportedly looking for a "historic haul" for Durant, as they should. That means on top of the reigning Rookie of the Year, the Raptors would likely have to trade either OG Anunoby or Gary Trent Jr., plus another player to make the money work and that's before we even get into draft picks.
The Nets would probably ask for at least three first-round picks on top of Barnes, Anunoby/Trent and "Player X who makes the money work."
That's a massive gut punch for the future of Toronto's franchise, even if you get Durant for four more years.
Durant is an all-time talent. You're automatically a contender if he joins your team. But is it worth blowing up a talented young core who could develop into a title contender organically? I'm not convinced it is.
