NBA Rumors: Raptors, RJ Barrett, Kings, Malik Monk, Nets, Cam Thomas

Raptors

Veteran wing RJ Barrett looks like the most likely trade candidate on the Raptors’ roster, per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line and Bleacher Report.

Barrett’s name surfaced in talks with the Pelicans during February’s Brandon Ingram negotiations, though the Pelicans had little interest.

“RJ Barrett’s representation is fully aware that he is someone that could be discussed in trades moving forward for the Raptors,” Fischer said on a Bleacher Report livestream.

Fischer added that while predicting deadline activity in August is difficult, he expects the Raptors to act as buyers this season.

“I have the Raptors already earmarked as a buyer,” Fischer said. “Now, if things go awry (or) if there’s something injury misfortune, maybe the Raptors don’t fully go that direction. But if everything goes as intended, if they’re faring night after night in the standings as they hope to be, as they intend to be, I’ve got the Raptors as a buyer.”

Kings

The Kings have been “trying very hard” to move guard Malik Monk this offseason, but so far have found no takers, a league source told Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal.

Monk is owed $18.8 million next season. Sacramento even offered him to the Warriors for restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, but Golden State declined.

The Kings’ motivation appears clear — opening a roster spot for Russell Westbrook. Sacramento has interest in signing the veteran point guard and using him as a sixth man behind Dennis Schroder.

Monk, 27, averaged 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 65 games last season. He shot 43.9 percent from the floor and 32.5 percent from three.

For his career, the former lottery pick owns averages of 12.3 points and 3.2 assists with the Hornets, Lakers and Kings.

Nets

Cam Thomas is a restricted free agent and reportedly has hopes of landing a deal near $ 40 million per season. That figure is viewed as unrealistic.

League sources told NBC Sports that something closer to Kuminga’s rumored offer — two years, $45 million — could get a deal done. When The Athletic surveyed 16 executives about Thomas, most valued him in the $20–30 million per year range, though only on a short-term contract.

Brooklyn, holding the leverage, has offered two years at the mid-level exception ($14.1 million), with the second year as a team option. That leaves Thomas choosing between that deal or playing on his $5.9 million qualifying offer and entering unrestricted free agency next summer.

“Cam Thomas’s situation seems to be a decision between taking his qualifying offer or a two-year deal with the team option that is north of the qualifying offer from Brooklyn somewher e around $14 million in average annual value,” Fischer said.

Thomas, 23, averaged 24 points and 3.8 assists while shooting 34.9 percent from deep in x games last season. With Michael Porter Jr. and Terance Mann now on board, Brooklyn could lean heavily on Thomas’ scoring to help stabilize its offense.