5 best trades in Toronto Raptors history

#3. February 18, 1996.

Traded Victor Alexander to the New York Knicks for Doug Christie.

Here’s a clear-cut fleecing consummated by Isiah Thomas, the Raptors’ first GM, and a man worth about 5 posts by himself. Alexander played not a single game for the Knicks, while Doug Christie was an excellent Raptor in 314 matches over 4+ seasons. A “3 & D” guard before the term was in common parlance, Christie was tough, smart and remarkably athletic. He averaged 14.2 points per game [PPG] in Toronto, and made 201 steals in ’96-’97. Doug was the team’s best shooting guard, by far, before the arrival of DeMar DeRozan. They are different players (Doug didn’t attack the hoop much, but was a better 3-ball shooter and defender), and I’m still not sure who I’d pick as my starter on the Raps’ All-Time team. [20-second timeout: Please don’t send me nasty-grams about forgetting Morris Peterson and Vince Carter. I certainly haven’t, but they were swingmen, i.e., able to play small forward as needed.]

Next: A tower of strength arrives, for almost nothing