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Toronto Raptors Trade Proposal: Danilo Gallinari for Chuck Hayes and Landry Fields

By Kevin Nimmock

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There is now just one week in between today and the 2015 NBA Trade Deadline. Some teams, like the Denver Nuggets, are quickly realizing their current roster won’t cut it and a playoff birth just isn’t in the cards. These teams will look to rebuild this summer, which is a process that will start during this season’s trade deadline. Teams will be looking to pickup players who can be dumped at the end of the season to create salary cap room for more valuable acquisitions. The Toronto Raptors should be prepared to provide some enticing cap-clearing contracts, and in return receive players who are ready to help them compete in the playoffs.

The Raptors are going to qualify for the playoffs with a high seed. It isn’t yet clear whether that will be the second spot or not, but regardless, they should have a real chance to compete deep-into the post season. However, GM Masai Ujiri shouldn’t let his impressive roster convince him that changes don’t need to be made. There are still a few key areas that could use some improving for the Raptors. Two of those areas are 3-point shooting and production from the wing. No one wants to see the Raps make another unfortunate first-round exit this season.

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With the aforementioned Nuggets set to blow it up and start again, trade deadline should be a veritable garage sale in Denver. One player worth looking at is Danilo Gallinari,who is currently frustrated with his role in Denver. After missing the entire 2013/14 season with a pair of knee surgeries, Gallinari has struggled to return to his previous form. This season, he has continued to battle against the injury bug, earning lacklustre stats. He has lost his starting spot to Wilson Chandler, a frustrating blow to the talented Italian.

He is only 26, so there should still be ample opportunity to bounce back. Gallinari should be able to return to his former productive ways soon, he just has to work off some rust. He is an oversized small forward (6-10) with shooting touch from just about anywhere on the court. He is particularly lethal from 3-point range, or at least he was before this season. He is currently averaging 8.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, shooting only 34% from the field and 30% from 3-point land. But, in 2012/13, he averaged 16.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 42% from the field and 37% from three. So, there is hope.

The Raptors could get Gallinari by giving up Landry Fields and Chuck Hayes. This deal would benefit both teams, because Fields and Hayes have large contracts set to expire at the end of this season. They are being paid $6.25 million and $6 million respectively to mostly sit on the bench, which they could easily do for the soon-to-be tanking Nuggets. Fields is actually a relatively useful player. He has no ability to shoot after two elbow surgeries, but he can pass and is an extremely good defender. He can definitely help fortify weak defensive teams. Hayes is more limited, but if a team is looking for a second or third-string centre with strong physicality, he could be a match.

This deal would give the Raptors an even more legitimate chance at a deep playoff run, something the whole city of Toronto badly craves. Ujiri should shoot for Gallinari and send away two players who will likely find new teams during the summer anyway.

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