The Toronto Raptors are apparently part of the negotiations around Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers.

They have emerged as possible suitors to land the highly-coveted guard.

But apparently, they’re not willing to put all of their assets and players on the table to get him.

According to Kurt Helin, Scottie Barnes is “untouchable” in trade talks.

“Been told by multiple people it’s not that he was taken off the table, he was never in the same room as the table,” Helin said, according to NBACentral.

The Toronto Raptors have made Scottie Barnes untouchable in all trade talks, per @basketballtalk

“Been told by multiple people it's not that he was taken off the table, he was never in the same room as the table.” pic.twitter.com/8fVaK7IKFx

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 26, 2023

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Does their refusal to move Barnes mean that the Raptors are out of the running to get Lillard?

Not exactly.

The Raptors have a deep roster and multiple players who could be traded over to the Blazers.

But, as we have seen, if the Blazers don’t get exactly who they want, they will just sit on Lillard and not negotiate.

There are multiple other players in Toronto who could be part of a package sent to Portland, including Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and rookie Gradey Dick.

In fact, ESPN is reporting that the Blazers are “intrigued” by Dick, a 6-foot-7 sharpshooter.

However, Barnes is definitely one of the most attractive players in the Raptors’ lineup.

During his first two years in the league, the former Rookie of the Year has averaged 15.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists with a 47.3% field goal percentage.

With Fred VanVleet now gone from the team, many people see him as the future of the franchise.

Therefore, it’s not surprising to hear the Raptors want to keep him safe and sound in Toronto.

Will Portland keep negotiating with the Raptors now that Barnes is protected?

We have just a few more days to find out.

The post Raptors Have Made 1 Player ‘Untouchable’ In Trade Talks appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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The NBA is regarded as the best basketball league in the world.

Talent from all around the globe can flaunt their skills in the NBA and earn immense money as well as fame.

But even after making it to the NBA, the journey is not over, if anything, it only begins for most.

Either way, being in the NBA is not for every player because, deep down, the league is a business.

Former lottery pick Jabari Parker recently called out the NBA for being a business, via NBACentral on Twitter.

“Sadly, the NBA is a business, and there are 10-12 teams that try to win every game, and the other half try to get a draft pick,” Parker said.

Jabari Parker calls out the NBA, describing the league as "watered down," and outlines why he chose to leave for Barcelona

“I just want to be a part of something legitimate. I want to be a part of ‘every game matters’. Sadly, the NBA is a business and there are 10-12 teams… pic.twitter.com/IgAvBqCgZc

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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 26, 2023

Parker played in the NBA for eight years before leaving the league to play for Barcelona in Spain.

Parker was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, but unfortunately, he could never be a legitimate superstar in the league.

As for his call-out, Parker claimed that most teams are tanking for a top draft pick during the regular season.

On the other hand, he believes there are only about 12 teams that are trying to win every game of the season.

Thus, it leaves a very small market for most players to play in the league.

Parker gave examples of how players like DeMarcus Cousins, Dwight Howard, and John Wall are out of the league despite being superstars in the league at one point in their respective careers.

Parker concluded by calling the NBA “watered down,” and it led to him leaving it for Spain.

The former No. 2 overall draft pick averaged 14.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over 310 games during his NBA career.

The post Former Lottery Pick Calls Out The NBA For Being A Business appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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The Portland Trail Blazers were one of the worst teams in the 2022-23 NBA season, as they finished as the 13th seed in the Western Conference.

On a positive note, it helped them land the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, which they used to draft Scoot Henderson.

However, the Trail Blazers could have picked Victor Wembanyama if they had been awarded the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Wembanyama is touted to become the face of the NBA in the future, and another benefit for the Trail Blazers would have been that Damian Lillard was reportedly “cool” with playing alongside Wemby, via NBACentral on Twitter.

“First of all, if they got the number one pick Dame would be good. He would have been cool playing with Wemby,” Sean Highkin said.

Damian Lillard would have been ‘cool’ playing alongside Victor Wembanyama in Portland if they had secured the No. 1 pick, per @highkin

“First of all, if they got the number one pick Dame would be good. He would have been cool playing with Wemby. That would’ve been an exception… pic.twitter.com/OEQlxd0ufQ

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 26, 2023

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Lillard requested a trade from the Trail Blazers earlier this offseason after 11 years of loyal service to the franchise.

But Dame would have apparently considered staying with the Trail Blazers had they drafted Wembanyama.

While the rookie may take a couple of years to reach his potential, he’s almost NBA-ready from day one.

On the other hand, Henderson also flaunts a lot of potential, but not many believe that he’ll become better than Wembanyama in the long run.

Unfortunately, the Trail Blazers didn’t land the No.1 overall pick in the draft, and Lillard is expected to be traded soon.

The 33-year-old superstar has named the Miami Heat as his preferred destination, but there’s no guarantee that the request will be fulfilled.

After all, the Trail Blazers will accept the best trade offer available to them, regardless of which team offers it.

The post Reporter Notes 1 Way Trail Blazers Could Have Made Damian Lillard Happy appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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