NBA trade news: Raptors backed to make SHOCK Anthony Davis move to replace Kawhi Leonard

While the Raptors are solely focused on the NBA Finals, the front office will have one eye on this offseason with Leonard set to enter free agency.

But multiple reports have suggested the 27-year-old will opt to leave Toronto, however ESPN’s Max Kellerman believes the Raptors have the capabilities to replace him with a ready-made All-Star in the trade market.

Davis has supposedly not changed his mind about wanting to leave the New Orleans Pelicans, with the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks heavily linked.

Kellerman though believes Toronto have enough to offer the Pelicans to make an attractive offer.

“Boston could give them Tatum or everything but if they don’t think he’s going to stay you’re not giving up Jayson Tatum, who could be a franchise player,” he said on ESPN’s First Take.

“So maybe not Boston. You have to start looking around for places that have the stuff that can go get Anthony Davis.

“What do the Knicks have that can go get an Anthony Davis? They bgoing to trade the pick plus other stuff for a guy who may not stay because how dysfunctional the Knicks are?

“What about Brooklyn, who can simply sign a free agent, doesn’t have to give up a bunch of stuff to get AD.

“The Lakers would love to get him but so far, they’ve been rebuffed.

“Who is the team that has the team that has the stuff to get him who believes they can keep him, or else is willing to gamble for one year and be ok with losing him?

“The Toronto Raptors is the answer.

“Y’all about to lose Kawhi Leonard most likely after this season. Whether you win or lose, I think he’s out.

“What has Masai Ujiri, who may be the best GM in basketball, he was willing to gamble on a one-year potential rental and give up value for it because he saw your best player can not just be an All-Star, they must be an MVP-level player or you’re not really going to contend for a championship.

“They have their first round picks for the foreseeable future, they haven’t sacrificed those, they only traded second round picks because Masai knows what he’s doing.

“At the point guard position you have VanVleet and Lowry; you can lose one of them.

“In terms of your young, developing defensive wings with upside on offence we have Siakam and Anunoby… Masai is creative enough and has enough value in parts on that team where he may be willing, have the skill to pull it off and be willing to risk a one-year rental.”

source: express.co.uk