The Kevin Durant storm has been pouring torrential rain over this NBA offseason. The Toronto Raptors find themselves one of the most heavily affected, knee-deep in reports and rumors about their interest in the former MVP and two-time NBA champion.
But getting a superstar of that caliber has a price – one that most likely needs to involve the Raptors' most prized asset and franchise piece in Scottie Barnes.
It's clear that Raptors president Masai Ujiri will do everything in his power to find a suitable deal for the Brooklyn Nets that doesn't include the reigning Rookie of the Year.
But after seeing what it took to land Rudy Gobert, it's hard to fathom the Nets accepting a deal that doesn't include a diamond of a future talent in Barnes for a top-five NBA player and proven playoff performer in Kevin Durant.
If it comes down to it, the Raptors must bite the bullet and sacrifice Scottie Barnes if it's the only way to win the trade sweepstakes for Kevin Durant. Here are three (3) reasons why the risk is worth it:
3 reasons Raptors must sacrifice Scottie Barnes in Kevin Durant trade
#1 – Scottie Barnes is a stud, but he's no sure superstar.
Make no mistake, Scottie Barnes is a bona fide stud. In just his age-20 season, he was a focal point on a Raptors team that won 48 games last season. He averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on a stellar 49.2 percent shooting clip.
He's also a physical freak. He's not as tall as Kevin Durant, but at 6'9″ with arms for days and a strong frame, he has the ideal size to become a star in this league for years to come. His defense also makes him a two-way nightmare for opposing teams now and going forward.
It's no surprise that the mere mention of giving up Scottie Barnes will have your Toronto Raptors fan friends giving you the silent treatment. Most probably already clicked off the article at this point. But the fact of the matter is, just how good Scottie Barnes can become remains up in the air. Could he turn into a perennial All-NBA selection and future Hall-of-Famer? Maybe.
But there's just as equal a chance that he hits a happy middle, turning into a tantalizing talent that makes a couple of All-Star teams but never breaches that upper echelon of players that can be a number one option on a title-contending team. That's not a indictment of Barnes's talent. It's just the reality that must players never reach their ceiling.
#2 – Top 5 players like Kevin Durant are almost never available. Pounce when you can.
You know who is a proven number one option on a title team and is locked into the next four years of his contract? Kevin Durant.
Durant may be on the older side, but his game is one that looks to age gracefully given that it's largely dependent on perimeter play and using his height to shoot over people like he's always done throughout his entire career.
Yes, he still deals with a few injuries here and there. But most of those regular season stints on the sidelines come as precautionary rest. He's played in every single playoff game in the past two seasons and showed little signs of decline.
Getting rid of Scottie Barnes will definitely sting. But the absolute ceiling for him is to turn into a top five player like Kevin Durant. Why not get a bird in hand – and not just as a rental for one year. Speaking of rentals…
#3 – The Raptors are still living off the Kawhi Leonard title royalties.
If there's any team that knows that a sacrifice of a homegrown product could be worth it for the right player, it's the Toronto Raptors.
Obviously, the circumstances differ in that the DeMar DeRozan-led squads had plateaued and that Barnes could eventually blossom into a player much better than DeRozan ever was. But that's the price to pay for another chance at a title.
Kawhi Leonard, a star who had won a title in the past, entered a roster without a clear alpha but with the right pieces around him to support him for his second ring.
Even if the Raptors surrender Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent Jr., and OG Anunoby in a hypothetical trade, they'd still have two battle-tested All-Stars in Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet on the roster.
Siakam was just named to the All-NBA third team. It's no stretch to say that he's a top 20 player in this league. VanVleet garnered his first All-Star selection last season. You could make the argument he's in the next 10 as a top 30 player.
Add Kevin Durant to that mix capable of being the best player on the floor on any given night – minus the headaches of his co-stars in Brooklyn – and you have yourself a championship core.
It's far from a superteam that everyone paints as favorites, nor is Vegas giving that roster the best odds to win a title. But Kevin Durant puts you on the shortlist of contenders just like the Kawhi Leonard trade did in 2019.
Scottie Barnes is a special talent, but he's still far away from turning into a player of Kevin Durant's caliber – and it's no guarantee he even gets close. If the Raptors have a shot at KD, they must take it and not look back.
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