Report: Raptors believe they can make best offer for Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant may have given Brooklyn a two-team wish list with his trade demand — Phoenix and Miami — but the Nets are under no obligation to abide by his wishes. Durant is under contract for four more years, and the Nets’ priority must be to get the best return in a trade package they can.

Which is why the Toronto Raptors are in the conversation.

The Raptors — rightfully — believe they can put together a more enticing trade package than any other team, reports Michael Grange at SportsNet.

On top of ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reporting Friday that the Raptors are ‘lurking’ in the background of the Kevin Durant trade discussions that have held the NBA hostage in recent days, I can confirm that not only are the Raptors ‘lurking,’ but they also feel they can put together the best package of assets the Brooklyn Nets are likely to get. Confidence isn’t the word for it, but optimism might be.

The Raptors’ offer would be based around All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam and wing OG Anunoby, plus three first-round picks. Other players could be in the mix on both sides — the Nets are looking to trade players such as Joe Harris as well — but Siakam and Anunoby would be the core of any offer. That would still leave the Raptors with Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. and plenty of other talent that would form a title contender.

The Nets likely will ask for Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, but that may be a step too far for the Raptors.

The Raptors have remained fixed on keeping rookie of the year Scottie Barnes out of any package they are offering. Can they hold fast to that and still acquire the NBA’s second-leading active scorer?

As one person with knowledge of the situation put it: “That’s the billion-dollar question.”

Beyond Barnes, two