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Toronto Raptors: Why Norman Powell is likely to be traded next

By Mike Bossetti

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 8 - Toronto Raptor DeMar DeRozan talks with Raptors Norman Powell (24) in the 1st half as the Toronto Raptors host the Orlando Magic in Air Canada Centre, Toronto, April 8. April 8, 2018. Bernard Weil/Toronto Star (Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 8 - Toronto Raptor DeMar DeRozan talks with Raptors Norman Powell (24) in the 1st half as the Toronto Raptors host the Orlando Magic in Air Canada Centre, Toronto, April 8. April 8, 2018. Bernard Weil/Toronto Star (Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 05: CJ Miles #0 of the Toronto Raptors and Serge Ibaka #9 react in the second half while playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 5, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 05: CJ Miles #0 of the Toronto Raptors and Serge Ibaka #9 react in the second half while playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 5, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Other potential trade candidates

Serge Ibaka:

Serge Ibaka is unlikely to be traded for a host of reasons. The largest being the price to move him.

Ibaka provides essentially no value to the remaining teams with cap space, so trading his contract would essentially be a salary dump. Dumps can be very expensive. The Denver Nuggets traded away a lightly protect first round pick to dump one-year of salary. Trading Ibaka’s two years becomes even more problematic.

Still a useful player, Toronto could also attempt to bring a third team in. Finding a team that not only wants Ibaka but has salary to offer worse than Ibaka becomes difficult.

Perhaps most importantly, Ibaka also offers value to the Toronto Raptors lineup. The team just traded away its backup center, and has only one guaranteed contract at power forward.

Fans soured on Ibaka after a terrible postseason performance, but in reality you can do worse than a skilled defensive big-man who can stretch the floor. Yes, Ibaka has his flaws, but he is likely going to be in Toronto for the remainder of his contract.

C.J. Miles:

The Raptors acquired C.J. Miles on year ago in a sign-and-trade deal with the Indiana Pacers. Shortly after completing the deal Miles agreed to a three-year $25 million contract.

Last season, Miles more or less lived up to his deal. Making a little more than $8 million per year, Miles isn’t necessarily a bargain or a bloated contract. He is worth about what he is being paid.

The acquisition of Danny Green does provide a certain level of duplicity. Green is perhaps not quite as talented a shooter as Miles, but is considerably better defensively. With Green on the roster, it’s reasonable to ask if Toronto still has a need for Miles?

The answer is yes. In the modern NBA, wings who can space the floor are priced at a premium. Miles and Green’s skill-set do overlap, but they overlap in areas Toronto can afford duplicity.

Toronto ranked 18th in the NBA in three-point percentage last year, additional shooting was needed. Trading away Miles re-creates a problem just recently fixed.