Acquiring Paul George makes sense for the Raptors’ present and future

In order to compete with the Cavaliers, the Raptors need to become more versatile on both ends of the floor. Trading for Paul George is worth the risk, if it means a better shot at the NBA Finals.

With Jimmy Butler on his way to Minnesota, there is no question who the biggest name is on the trading block this summer, Paul George. The Pacers’ star is one of the best two-way players in the NBA and could change the playoff picture in either conference heading into the 2017-18 season.

For all the value a team would receive by acquiring the star forward, there is a substantial amount of risk in doing so. Paul George has only one year left on his current contract and the native of Los Angeles County has expressed interest in playing close to home; most rumors place him with the Lakers.

This limits the number of teams involved in a potential trade for George, because acquiring him won’t come cheap and you would be risking your future on a guy who may only be there one year. The Lakers, Celtics and now Cavaliers have been at the centre of the George rumors, most recently involving a potential three-team deal, per ESPN’s Marc Stein.

The Raptors need to get involved in a potential trade for Paul George. They can’t just bring the same group back that got thoroughly dominated by the Cavaliers in the playoffs, because to do so would mean spending all of their cap-space on a team they know can’t win. It is time for a big change and this trade is step one.

DeMar DeRozan for Paul George, who says no?

No harm, no foul, says the algorithm

This trade makes sense for the both teams, giving the Raptors a -2 and the Pacers a +1 in projected wins by the ESPN Trade Machine.

The Pacers receive a multi-time all-star player who is under contract for the next four years. The trade allows them to stay competitive in the eastern conference and avoid a complete rebuild. It also gives them a power forward with starting experience to add to their young group of front court players.

For the Raptors, It would be hard to let go of the face of the franchise and an all-star, but what you are getting back is a better player in George, who fits the style the team’s president and coach have said they want to play.

Losing Pascal Siakam is tough because of his youth and his potential, but Thad Young shot 38 per cent from three on less than two attempts per game and he could be a good veteran depth power forward who can stretch the floor.

Assuming both Lowry and Ibaka come back, this makes the Raptors better equipped to take on the Cavaliers. They would finally have someone who could guard LeBron as well as is possible. George has the ability to go at King James on the other end of the floor.

Risky, but worth it

As mentioned before, this trade comes with the risk of George leaving at the end of the season, but that doesn’t significantly decrease its value. Shedding DeRozan’s nearly $28 million contract would give the Raptors some financial room to maneuver next offseason, which they will need with decisions to be made on Cory Joseph and Norman Powell.

The Pacers know they have to trade Paul George, now they have to decide what they want to get in return for him. If they want to rebuild with high upside young players and draft picks, then they make look somewhere else, but if they want to remain competitive in the eastern conference, this trade could be the right one.

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