The Toronto Raptors are reportedly preparing to shatter the NBA trade market once again, with league insiders pointing toward a potential blockbuster move to acquire Portland Trail Blazers veteran guard Jrue Holiday to pair alongside Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes.
Following their earth-shattering summer move to bring Leonard back to North Park after a months-long league investigation into the LA Clippers was cleared by the NBA, Toronto executive Masai Ujiri is refusing to sit idle.
Despite Leonard being sidelined for at least a week due to persistent knee swelling, CBS Sports insider Sam Quinn highlights Toronto as a primary candidate to swoop in for the two-time NBA champion and perimeter stopper.
CBS Sports Insider Names Toronto as Ideal Landing Spot for Holiday
Outlining potential suitors for the 34-year-old veteran guard, Quinn emphasized that Holiday’s low-maintenance offensive game and championship pedigree make him a plug-and-play superstar for contenders across the league:
“Anywhere. There is not a team in the history of basketball that would not be improved by Jrue Holiday’s presence. Low-maintenance offense, still strong defense and an all-time teammate.
“Take your pick on who can fit the salary. The usual suspects (Detroit, Toronto, Miami) all make sense, but the true answer is probably everyone.”
Currently playing under a massive four-year, $134 million contract, Holiday brings a championship-proven resume, having won NBA titles with both the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics before landing in Portland.
The Ultimate Defensive Nightmare: Holiday, Barnes, and Kawhi
If Toronto manages to assemble the salary components to match Holiday’s contract, the Raptors would immediately boast the most terrifying perimeter and wing defense in the entire NBA.
A defensive core featuring Holiday, Scottie Barnes, and Kawhi Leonard would give head coach Darko Rajaković an unprecedented combination of length, switchability, and championship composure:
- Point-of-Attack Lockout: Holiday remains one of the premier guard defenders in modern basketball history, capable of locking down opposing point guards like Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton.
- Wing Lockdown: With Barnes and Leonard handling elite scoring wings, Toronto’s length would completely neutralize high-octane perimeter offenses.
- Championship Mentorship: Beyond his defense, Holiday would serve as the ultimate veteran voice for young guards Immanuel Quickley and Jamal Shead as Toronto pushes for another championship run.
Can Toronto Pull Off Another Blockbuster?
With Kawhi Leonard working his way back from knee swelling and Scottie Barnes shouldering heavy offensive duties, acquiring a proven two-way winner like Jrue Holiday would signal to the rest of the Eastern Conference that Toronto’s 2019 championship ambitions are fully back in play.
If Masai Ujiri pulls the trigger, the Raptors will transform overnight from a dangerous playoff dark horse into a legitimate NBA Finals favorite.
