NBA Rumors : Raptors "Insistent" On One Particular Player In Any Trade With Nets

If the Brooklyn Nets are still intent on swinging a deal for one of the Toronto Raptors' big trade pieces, they'll need to send one of their breakthrough players up north of the border.

Talked Knicks, OG Anunoby, how Nic Claxton would factor in on some Nets-Raptors deals and how the uncertainty around Kevin Durant is impacting the NBA trade deadline @EliseMenaker: pic.twitter.com/ieoZ6EwNEe

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) February 8, 2023

According to Nets Insider Ian Begley of SNY:

One thing to note with the Nets here — they’ve obviously talked to Toronto a decent amount about trying to get another deal done before the deadline. And I’m told that members of the Raptors have been insistent on getting Nic Claxton back in any significant trade with the Nets.

The Raptors, notably, were interested in Claxton a year ago at the trade deadline as well, but now, he is the centerpiece of the Nets' defense, leading the NBA in blocked shots at 2.6 per game. He's also bumped his scoring average over five points from last season, to 13.2 points per game, while nearly doubling his rebounding, to 9.2 boards per contest. 

As Begley noted, the Raptors' insistence on Claxton "is a pretty big hurdle."

The Nets are known to have interest in each of OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. But whether or not a deal can get done given these parameters is in question. 

Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports