Report: League Execs Were Fearful Raptors Could Have Traded For Kevin Durant Or Jimmy Butler

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, league execs were fearful that the Toronto Raptors could have traded for Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler. 

The Raptors shocked the NBA world in 2018 when they acquired Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs. 

“Some league executives were even fearful that Toronto could have jumped into the trade frenzies that materialized last week for Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler last week in some form of a repeat inspired by the Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard Hail Mary back in the summer of 2018,” Fischer wrote. “Be advised that the Raptors’ front office did poke around Durant back during the summer of 2022, sources say, when he first requested a trade out of Brooklyn.”

The Raptors acquired Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans and signed the swingman to a three-year, $120 million contract extension. 

Durant remained with the Phoenix Suns, while the Miami Heat traded Butler to the Golden State Warriors. 

The Raptors, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2022, now have a core of Ingram, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick and Immanuel Quickley.

“At first glance, adding Ingram now wouldn’t appear to bolster Toronto’s tanking campaign, which veteran center Jakob Poeltl put on full blast way back on Media Day,” Fischer wrote. “Coaches there have been direct with the team’s young players about not stressing game night results this season, sources say, while prioritizing development and growth ahead of next year. When The Stein Line first revealed Toronto’s interest in Ingram on Jan. 28, it took several more phone calls and conversations for me to understand the pursuit as well. Yet sources continue to stress that Toronto does not wish to stay this bad for much longer. ‘They want to compete starting next year,’ said one NBA figure with knowledge of the Raptors’ thinking.”

The Raptors could attempt to trade for Durant in the offseason.

NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN believes Durant will “probably” get traded by the Suns this summer.