If a blockbuster deal is made between the Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors ahead of the NBA trade deadline, one Nets player is reportedly a must for the Raptors in any potential trade.

The Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors are in very different positions in the Eastern Conference heading into the Feb. 9 trade deadline. Brooklyn is the fifth-best team in the conference and is just days removed from a blockbuster deal that sent Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks. They are now reportedly on the hunt for another massive move to keep them strong for a run in this year’s playoffs.

On the flip side, the Raptors are currently sitting outside the playoff picture and in a very difficult position where they must decide if they want to be sellers, or hope certain smaller moves can turn around what has been an extremely disappointing campaign in 2022-2023. The two franchises’ divergent paths may actually collide just in time for the NBA trade deadline as the two teams have had talks in recent days about possible deals.