After Kevin Durant's trade request on June 30 sent shock waves around the basketball world, the league-wide ripple effect continues to be felt as Brooklyn is still in search of the perfect return for its superstar forward.
As it stands, the Raptors continue to lurk as a potential destination for the 12-time All-Star, whose trade request saga could last well into the coming weeks.
MORE: Why Raptors should — and shouldn't — trade for Kevin Durant
Toronto has the talent and draft capital to make a legitimate offer for Durant and history suggests the franchise would be willing to make a move if the opportunity presents itself. After trading for Kawhi Leonard in 2018, Raptors president Masai Ujiri said "when you get a chance to get a top-five player, which doesn't come very often, you have to jump on it."
Durant will be 34 next season but is still firmly cemented among the league's top five players and is one of the NBA's all-time greats. Where would a move for the former MVP rank among other big trades made by the Raptors franchise?
MORE: Nets 'wouldn't consider' Kevin Durant-to-Raptors trade without Scottie Barnes
A quick look at the past (and the fact that Durant would be under team control for at least four seasons), gives it an early chance to be No. 1.
Until that day, however, here's how things shake out now.
1. Acquiring Kawhi Leonard
- Raptors got: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green
- Spurs got: DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, 2019 first-round pick
There was no way this one wouldn't land at No. 1.
While Leonard was disgruntled and coming off of a season in which he played just nine games in San Antonio, Ujiri deemed that the reward was worth the risk.
A season of maintenance of Leonard's ailments set up a historic playoff run that ended with the Raptors winning the title. The risk was definitely worth the reward, even with Leonard leaving via free agency just weeks after winning the championship.
2. Parting ways with Vince Carter
- Raptors got: Alonzo Mourning, Aaron Williams, Eric Williams, 2005 first-round pick, 2006 first-round pick
- Nets got: Vince Carter
Carter is often credited with putting the franchise on the map but his time in Toronto came to a rather unceremonious end.
Once it was clear that the franchise needed to part ways with Carter, the Raptors received a respectable haul in return, complete with one draft pick that would be used to select Joey Graham and another that was packaged in a trade to the Knicks in a deal that facilitated Antonio Davis' return to Toronto.
Aaron (37) and Eric (62) Williams played a combined 99 games for the Raptors and Mourning never suited up, but Carter's name alone makes this a big deal.
MORE: Why the Raptors should or shouldn't trade for Donovan Mitchell
3. Completing the puzzle with Marc Gasol
- Raptors got: Marc Gasol
- Grizzlies got: Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, C.J. Miles, 2024 second-round pick
Getting involved at the deadline can be tricky, but when done right, it can pay dividends.
The move for Gasol paid dividends.
In 2019, the Raptors went all-in as they pursued a title, parting ways with a package centered around a fan favorite in Valanciunas to land Gasol. Toronto probably doesn't win the 2019 championship without Gasol, who would go on to spend one more memorable season with the franchise.
MORE: Will Raptors be team of destiny for Kevin Durant?
4. Bidding farewell to Kyle Lowry
- Raptors got: Goran Dragic, Precious Achiuwa
- Heat got: Kyle Lowry
Lowry is the greatest Raptor of all time but the trade that ended his tenure in Toronto didn't exactly have the fanfare that his status would warrant.
Instead of the Raptors losing Lowry for nothing via free agency, the team received a veteran in Dragic and a young prospect in Achiuwa in the deal. Ultimately, Dragic yielded Thaddeus Young in a separate trade, meaning the deal ultimately landed Achiuwa and Young.
5. Bringing in Serge Ibaka
- Raptors got: Serge Ibaka
- Magic got: Terrence Ross, 2017 first-round pick (lottery protected)
Ahead of the 2017 deadline, the Raptors parted ways with Ross to bolster their frontcourt rotation.
In Ibaka, Toronto received a culture-changer that became one with the franchise for the better part of four seasons and a key part in its title run.
Because neither Ibaka nor Ross had All-Star selections to their names, this trade doesn't have as much caché as the others, but it's still a big one because of the impact on the title in 2019.
