How about those Toronto Blue Jays?
If you’re the type to romanticise the thought of sports success being contagious, boy oh boy, have you reached the perfect post/writer. (Also, where have you been all my life?)
With NBA offseason wrapping up and training camp drawing oh-so-near, the buzz around Toronto typically starts growing for the Raptors. However, this year, all the buzz is centred around the neighbours down the road at Rogers Centre.
The ‘Boys of Summer’
find themselves atop the American League (period) standings with just over two weeks left in the regular season. Not even the most ardent Jays’ fans would have predicted such success. (I promise this is a Raptors post, so please bear with me as I channel my inner Blake Murphy) The Blue Jays’ unexpected rise from Wild Card hopeful to World Series contender can be attributed to 4 factors:
- All-Stars performing as expected
- Young players realizing their potential
- Veterans staying healthy while making solid contributions
- Closest rivals falling short of expectations
If you squint just enough, you can see how those factors can also translate to the Raptors. Imagine the calendar has just flipped to 2026, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Immanuel Quickley are all garnering All-Star buzz. Gradey Dick and Collin Murray-Boyles look like the next iteration of Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl have yet to miss a game and are clicking on all cylinders.
Yes, the first 3 of 4 factors are likely not going to happen….but that’s also what we thought of the Blue Jays in April. The 4th factor has already started taking shape. Boston (Jayson Tatum) and Indiana (Tyrese Haliburton) have each lost their best players to Achilles injuries. Milwaukee’s 3rd-best player is either Kyle Kuzma or Gary Trent Jr. New York is one Pablo Torre Finds Out episode away from being caught for circumventing the salary cap for Jalen Brunson. How much faith do you have that Detroit, Orlando, or Atlanta will make the gigantic leap from First-Round fodder to Eastern Conference title contenders? Cleveland may be the only sure bet in the East, which is ideal news for any team with rags-to-riches dreams, like the Raptors.
Alright, I’ve buried the lede long enough. If every one of those factors works in Toronto’s favour, that introduces a handful of new realities:
- One of the young stars — Dick or Ja’Kobe Walter, for example — will have shown enough growth to not only replace Barrett in the starting lineup, but make him a prized trade chip at the deadline (even more than he is now, since he would have theoretically also increased his value).
- With all of the young players improving, that would also make Ochai Agbaji, his theoretically improved play, and expiring contract another valuable trade chip.
- Barrett and Agbaji’s $34 million in salary this season, plus the Raptors owning all their first and second picks (except the 2031 2nd), gives Bobby Webster a solid starting point in trade negotiations.
As the trade deadline approaches, the suddenly contending Raptors can aim for improvements at the margins, whether it be depth at the Guard and Wing positions, or solidifying the backup Center position.
Honourable mentions: Trey Murphy, Walker Kessler, Daniel Gafford, Nic Claxton, Rob Dillingham, Coby White
- Dalton Knecht: You’d think acquiring Knecht for (see what I did there?) Barrett would signal Toronto’s continued movement towards getting younger. Did you know Dalton is less than a year younger than RJ? It’s astonishing how often I forget that Barrett’s still only 25 years old. Knecht is a prime target because he’s only got 1 season under his belt and should continue improving, while it’s likely we’ve already seen Barrett’s ceiling.
- Onyeka Okongwu: With Clint Capela finally out of Atlanta, you’d think the opportunity to start had finally arrived for Onyeka. Instead, the Hawks drafted Asa Newell and traded for Kristaps Porzingis. Toronto may not be able to offer starter minutes right away, but at least there will be a path as he’ll be groomed to replace Poeltl.
- Keon Ellis: I get the allure of Trey Murphy, especially on a New Orleans team that is oddly constructed and seemingly on the cusp of major changes….but why pay top dollar when you get a more efficient version of him at 10% of the cost? Ellis is currently on a minimum contract that expires after this season. He broke out last season with his defensive prowess, but also impressed with his efficient 3-point shooting.
- Austin Reaves/Rui Hachimura: While the previous 3 names had an eye towards Toronto’s future, the final names focus more on this season. With Tatum and Haliburton coming back healthy and hungry in 2026, the Raptors should look to capitalize on this tiny window, especially if they perform to the standards laid out above. Going back to the Lakers well and nabbing Reaves and/or Hachimura would further solidify the Raptors’ playoff rotation.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: I’ll admit that sniping Myles Turner from the Pacers may have saved the Bucks (again) from losing Giannis. However, at some point early in the season — maybe before December — Giannis will see what the rest of the basketball world already knows…..he needs to leave Milwaukee. If and when that shoe drops, Bobby Webster will be armed and ready to finish the recruiting job that Masai Ujiri started.
Are there targets you’d like to see Toronto pursue? If the Raptors were hypothetically as good as I’ve outlined above, would trades even be necessary? As Webster tries to fill the enormous shoes left behind by Ujiri, he’ll have a golden opportunity to make his mark if the right trading partner chooses to dance.
