As the NBA Draft gets closer, there has been a lot of chatter regarding some of the top picks. Over the past few weeks, there have been reports of multiple teams with lottery picks looking to make trades.
The Toronto Raptors also find themselves with a lottery pick, but reports suggest they are looking to move up, not down. According to Matt Moore of Action Network, the Raptors have their sights set on acquiring the No. 2 pick from the Charlotte Hornets.
"The only other team that seems genuinely interested in pursuing the No.2 pick is Toronto, but I’m expecting that list of teams to expand rapidly this week; again, a lot of teams have an interest in Scoot Henderson as a potential franchise cornerstone."
After failing to make the playoffs this season, Toronto appears to be preparing for a rebuild. The first domino was parting ways with longtime head coach Nick Nurse and replacing him with a first-time coach in Darko Rajakovic.
It’s also worth pointing out that Fred VanVleet declined his player option for next season and is entering free agency this summer.
Outside of Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson is the next biggest name of the 2023 draft class. Despite a lackluster season in the G-League this year, many still believe the explosive guard has the potential to be a star in the league.
If the Raptors decide to embrace a youth movement, Henderson could be the foundational piece for the next phase of the franchise. Alongside Scottie Barnes, the franchise will have a pair of intriguing young talents to build around.
While Toronto might have their sights set on the second pick, they could have a lot of competition before Thursday. As of now, the New Orleans Pelicans are another team that is high on Henderson.
With a pair of All-Stars to throw in a trade, Toronto might have to get creative with an offer if they want to be on the clock with the second pick come draft night.
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