Toronto Raptors trade rumors: Mike Conley trade, Lowry accepts trade and more

Modified Nov 08, 2022 11:44 GMT

Ahead of the annual All-Star Event in North Carolina, the window to make trades in the NBA will close in less than 24 hours. The trade window has historically closed on the Thursday after the All-Star Game, however, since 2018, the deadline has closed 10 days before the NBA's best players face off in the prestigious game.

The deadline was moved forward in order to allow traded players to sort out arrangements for both themselves and their families, and this means that teams are quickly running out of time to make any final moves.

Despite being one of the most impressive teams in the NBA so far this season, the Toronto Raptors are expected to be active ahead of the deadline. The Raptors are desperate to convince Kawhi Leonard that his future lies in Toronto, and due to this, bold trades remain a possibility. So as we enter the final few hours of the trade window, here are the latest Toronto Raptors trade rumors that you need to know.

#3 Raptors are not currently in for Mike Conley

After spending more than a decade with the Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley has been made available for trade. After another disappointing season, the Grizzlies are looking to dump salary, and over the last 72 hours, Conley has been heavily linked with a move to Toronto. Nevertheless, Marc Stein of the New York Times is reporting that talk of an imminent trade is wide of the mark:

The Raptors are not presently pursuing Memphis' Mike Conley, according to one league source, while pessimism is emanating from Detroit about the Pistons meeting the Grizzlies' asking price for Conley. Twenty hours to go before the trade deadline for things to re-ignite

So far this season, Conley has played 53 times, averaging 20.4 points, 6.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game.

#2 Kyle Lowry will accept the Raptors decision to trade him

When the Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard last summer, the trade broke up the longtime duo of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. DeRozan had been expected to see out his career with the franchise, although he was sent to the San Antonio Spurs, as the Raptors opted to make a major change.

Reports over the last 48 hours have also linked Lowry with a trade away from the team that he has been with since 2012, and when asked about his future, Lowry revealed to ESPN that he would accept Toronto's decision to trade him:

They make moves, and they make moves for the best of the organization. If they do something, that will be their feeling to whatever the organization thinks is best for them. Reassurance would be great, but at the end of the day, they don't have to call me. My job is, as a player, to go out here and do my job. If they want to call me, that'd be great. I would appreciate it. But if they don't, I understand

Lowry has been a regular starter for the Raptors this season, averaging 14.2 points, 9.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game. Nevertheless, Toronto are rumored to be looking at younger options, and Lowry could be the senior player to make way.

#1 The team has cleared a roster spot ahead of the deadline

While there is still no concrete information pointing to who the Raptors will acquire ahead of the trade deadline, the team has already cleared a spot for an impending arrival. According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Informer, the Raptors opened up a roster space by trading Malachi Richardson to the Philadelphia 76ers:

Sixers acquire Malachi Richardson, Toronto’s 2022 second-round pick and the draft rights to Emir Preldzic in exchange for cash considerations in trade with the Raptors, according to sources

Richardson had managed just 22 appearances this season, and the trade leaves the Raptors free to pursue their primary targets ahead of the deadline. The likes of Wes Matthews and Marc Gasol continue to be linked with a trade to Canada, and the Raptors will undoubtedly be keen to make a big move due to increased competition in the East.