More Raptors Trade Ideas

 I had fun writing this one yesterday and so I am coming back with some more today. Lets get a little more granular with what I'm looking for. To me the biggest needs the Raptors have are backup center, big wing/forward, 3rd string/backup PG. I said yesterday that if they don't fill the hole at backup center somehow I don't think they're going to accomplish what they want to. The forward needs are slightly less prominent but it would be nice to swap one of the shooting guards that all deserve minutes for someone with more size. At point guard I am really happy with running Jamal Shead out there as the backup all season, but I don't think he stops them from kicking the tires on someone more established, especially after the injury woes Quickley just went through. I need to take a step back sometimes because in every trade I suggested yesterday I found myself sad about losing the player they traded. I don't know how I became so attached to a 30 win team. Anyway, here's 3 more guys the Raptors could target:

Trayce Jackson-Davis

This is a pie in the sky type of idea, but what are we here for? Jackson-Davis is a very athletic but BBIQ challenged big man. As a result, his playing time in Golden State varies with Steve Kerr often opting to play veterans over young players. The Warriors need bigs as much as the Raptors do, but they also need guys they can trust to play. Ochai Agbaji has made himself into a reliable 3&D option that I think would fit perfectly beside stars, which Golden State has. He doesn't demand touches but finishes efficiently when given them and he has the athleticism and effort to be a solid defender. This would be selling low on Jackson Davis who is a solid player that they should be looking to get more playing time for, but if they wanted to lean more veteran to take 1 more shot with Steph Curry, flipping him for a more NBA ready player might make sense. For the Raptors he'd immediately fill the hole at backup center while being young enough to dream on as the center of the future. While I would miss Ochai, I said yesterday I feel like Ja'Kobe Walter is sneakily taking over Ochai's role as 3&D wing defender and there aren't minutes for everyone. This would even out the roster and give each player more playing time in their new destinations. I doubt this one comes to be, but I wouldn't mind it!

Andrew Wiggins

If I'm trading RJ Barrett it's going to have to be for another Canadian that I can adore. I kid, but a Wiggins for Barrett swap might actually make sense on paper. RJ Barrett is not Jimmy Butler, I am not going to try and argue that he is, but his game on offense is pretty similar to what Miami lost in Jimmy. By all accounts it looks like the Heat are going to try and compete again next year. Wiggins offers some all around versatility at the wing position, but he isn't really creating a ton for himself on offense and fits much better in a lower usage role. RJ Barrett is the opposite, he spends all game creating for himself on offense and has improved drastically as a playmaker as well. Miami would get a bit smaller and their defense would suffer a little, but they'd get more dynamic on offense and a little younger as well. Toronto would get the size and versatility they need at the wing and a lower usage player that fits better beside all the guys they have who need the ball in their hands. Ultimately I am not sure that either team sees this as much of an upgrade. I personally prefer Barrett to Wiggins even if the fit is more questionable with RJ. There's really no perfect trade when trying to swap RJ 1 for 1 for someone, he's a player with unique flaws and strengths which means you really are only going to get back another guy with unique flaws and strengths. It's more about if you think the guy you're getting back has strengths that fit better with this team than RJ's. With Wiggins I can kind of see it, but this wouldn't be a move I'm dying to make. 

Nic Claxton 

Here's another RJ Barrett sized salary for you, and another player with unique flaws and strengths that you can swap with RJ's. The Nets are a total wild card. If in 2 years you tell me nobody on the current Nets team are still with the organization, I'd believe you. I think Claxton will be a guy a lot of teams try to get in on, especially if the Nets are used as a 3rd team in a bigger deal this offseason. He's a really good rim protector with his length and bounce, and an awesome lob threat for the same reasons. Outside of that, he's slightly thin for his position and can get moved off his spot, he can't shoot at all and his free throws are an absolute liability in the clutch. He would fill the hole at backup center for the Raptors and give them a guy for the future, but he's not a perfect player. All of this is why he fits pretty well in an RJ Barrett trade. He'd make the roster make much more sense but isn't so good that RJ isn't a good enough return. The Nets could talk themselves into RJ Barrett being their best offensive option in this weird transition period, give him a million touches and see if you can pump his trade value for a bigger trade down the line. Ultimately, I hate any RJ Barrett trade that isn't consolidating him for a superstar. I think the Raptors should see what they've got in him given how much he's worked to make his game fit with the team. I could see this being a smart basketball move though and I wouldn't hate it completely. 

That's all for today! Thank goodness there's a game on tonight to give me more things to write about! This summer is going to be long, I might have to think about cutting back, but we'll see how it goes. Go Raptors.