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Raptors trade proposal: JV to Bulls for…

By Simon Neuwelt-Broder

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 13: Jonas Valanciunas
PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 13: Jonas Valanciunas /
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I previously argued that the Raptors should bite the bullet and move Serge Ibaka to center full-time. But if they do that, then what do they do with Jonas Valanciunas?

If you read my previous article about Serge Ibaka, you’ll know that I think Serge needs to slide to center. In the modern NBA, he fits the profile of a center better than a power forward. (Of course, the bulk of that article was written before the recent west coast road trip. Both Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas made me look foolish by saving the Raptors’ bacon.) But in order to slide Serge to center, you need to shuffle the roster a bit. There is already a glut of centers on the current roster, and centers don’t generally net teams much of a return on the current trade market.

Of the Raptors three centers, Bebe Nogueira is currently injured and questionably effective when he’s healthy. He’s a decent candidate to move at some point but not likely to net a significant return. Jakob Poeltl is a recent Masai Ujiri lottery pick and you’d have to imagine he’d only be shipped out in a blockbuster. That leaves Jonas Valanciunas and his onerous contract as the Raptors’ biggest potential trade chip. He has tangible skills, but his money will be hard to move for value. That shouldn’t be news to anyone who’s been following the team of late.

Making A Trade

But there’s one team out there that could be a potential fit for Jonas. They have the means to take on his contract and a useful player to ship out in return. On January 15th, Nikola Mirotic‘s trade restriction expires for the Chicago Bulls. If he consents to a trade (which he likely will), the Bulls can then ship him out. And if problems are still circulating around the Bulls locker room by then, I think the Raptors should pull the trigger on a deal that centres around the two Europeans. My proposal is Valanciunas for Nikola Mirotic and Quincy Pondexter.

Mirotic is a capable 4 who is a 35% career 3-pt shooter. That ranks slightly behind CJ Miles and right around Serge Ibaka’s career percentage. Pondexter is just salary flotsam and can occupy the 15th man slot that was vacated by KJ McDaniels. Mirotic is approximately the same age as Valanciunas but on a shorter, smaller contract. Pondexter cost New Orleans a pick just to unload this offseason. If he’s healthy he could be a matchup piece here and there, someone who could hit the odd three. Most likely he’d play the Chuck Hayes role of fan favourite benchwarmer or quickly find himself waived.

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The fit with Robin Lopez is awkward, but the Bulls aren’t worried about winning right now. Lopez is not a long-term piece. Valanciunas is still young enough to be the type of player that a rebuilding team would be willing to bring in. And at the price of a malcontent that needs to be shipped out, they could afford to take him on. Mirotic likely won’t be back next year and the Bulls reportedly are gauging his trade value. Valanciunas, on the other hand, is under contract for two more years plus a player option for ‘19-’20 that he’ll likely exercise.

After The Deal

With the trade the Raptors add salary flexibility down the road. They become a more modern NBA team for the rest of the season and don’t get significantly older at their core.

You’ll never get 100 cents on the dollar for JV but the priority should be getting something useful. A major area of need for the team is a guy who can play a capable 3-4 and shoot from outside. A lineup of Lowry, DeRozan, Anunoby, Mirotic, and Ibaka will have 3-point shooters at every position (well, almost). And a bench unit of VanVleet, Norman Powell, Miles, Siakam, and Poeltl is still lethal. The team would upgrade across the roster and increase flexibility both financially and positionally.

Do you think the Raptors should do it?

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