Toronto Raptors: What would a trade for James Harden look like?

The Toronto Raptors are big game hunting ahead of next year’s free agency but could default to a James Harden trade as a Plan B. 

The largest story of this offseason isn’t Harden’s trade request. It isn’t the fact that the Milwaukee Bucks failed attempt at pulling off a sign-and-trade for Bogan Bogdanovic. And it’s definitely not Gordon Hayward winning the lottery and signing a $120-million deal with the Charlotte Hornets.

No, the real story of this offseason is that Giannis Antetokounmpo has yet to sign an extension. The 2019 and 2020 MVP made it clear that if Milwaukee failed to upgrade their roster after a deflating out in last year’s playoffs, he’d at least contemplate a move elsewhere.

Antetokounmpo is set to become a free agent after this upcoming season, should he indeed elect not to sign an extension with the Bucks. The Toronto Raptors have long been linked as a potential destination for him, along with the Miami Heat, who eliminated Milwaukee in the playoffs.

But imagine Antetokounmpo does sign the extension, where would that leave the Raptors? With just over half a contending roster, and the cap space available to make a star-caliber swing. That would alter the plans of multiple NBA teams, and potentially the future of the league.

So, Toronto pivots. They take a look at the lay of the land, who’s available and within reach. The top name available and within reach for the Raptors is none other than James Harden. And given that he’s a top-5 player in today’s NBA, there’s an automatic price tag where the bidding starts.

Finding a new star wouldn’t just jump the franchise into title contention, but also set them up for the future. While some fans may think Raptors’ All-Star Pascal Siakam seemingly came out of nowhere, others aren’t ignoring the fact that his rise to relevance came next to Kawhi Leonard.

Toronto’s new face (if not now, especially once Kyle retires) failed to take hold of his opportunity at being the number one option last year, the season that followed Leonard’s exit.

While he put together a strong regular season campaign: 22.9 points ,7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and a steal per game; Siakam left room for conjecture about his capability as “the guy.”

Harden’s made it clear that he won’t immediately sign an extension with whoever becomes his new team. So in a worst-case scenario, he enters free agency in 2023, when Siakam is actually ready to lead the Raptors on his own, with now six seasons under his belt.

And in between now and then? Toronto maintains relevance at the top of the Eastern Conference, at worst contending in the playoffs, and at their best competing for a championship.

Masai Ujiri made a huge move in his seemingly overnight pursuit and acquiring of Kawhi Leonard. If he thinks the next big fish can be had, and bring the Toronto Raptors a championship on top of that, pursuit of James Harden is well worth the risk and weight of the cost to get him.