NBA rumors: ClutchPoints insider wonders if Raptors, Pelicans could be blockbuster trade partners this season

NBA rumors have surfaced suggesting that the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans could be potential trade partners this season. ClutchPoints senior NBA reporter Brett Siegel discussed the possibility on the latest edition of Clutch Scoops.

Siegel believes that the Pelicans view themselves as having a solid team that can compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. However, he thinks a trade involving Dejounte Murray could take place in the future. Murray was injured with an Achilles issue last season and has returned from that setback, drawing interest from various teams throughout the Eastern Conference.

The reporter also posited that the Raptors may be a suitable trade partner for the Pelicans. Siegel pointed to the uncertainty surrounding Raptors rookies Emmanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, as well as their long-term future with the franchise. He wondered if the Raptors could flip them for players like Dejounte Murray or Trey Murphy, who the Raptors have shown interest in previously.

If the Raptors were to acquire Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy and trade away Quickley and Barrett, their roster would resemble the 2019 championship team led by Kawhi Leonard. This hypothetical trade would include a strong, defensive-point guard in Murray, a versatile wing player like Murphy, and a go-to scorer in OG Anunoby, similar to the dynamic of the 2019 championship squad.