Toronto Raptors: Potential trade for Anthony Davis

Here’s the trade that makes the most sense:

Why the Pelicans Say yes:

Well, for starters, AD publicly asked for a trade and stated that he does not plan on re-signing with the Pelicans (per Adrian Wojnarowski) which will now put immense pressure on the front office to get something done. Whether they like it or not their franchise player has asked for an out and they better be ready to give it to him, cause if he walks away and the Pelicans get nothing for him that would almost spell doom for the struggling franchise.

The Pelicans’ eye should be on the future, with the goal being a proper rebuild. The best way of doing that is through young prospects and picks. Toronto has some of the best prospects in the NBA at the moment. Starting with potential-Most Improved Player, Pascal Siakam who’s been having a phenomenal season so far, at 15.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists he’s making a potential bid for an all-star spot. At 32-percent Siakam’s three-pointers aren’t yet where they need to be but he’s shown great promise after making a giant leap from last year improving 10-percent between years.

The Pelicans will also receive former 1st round pick OG Anunoby who has often been compared to two-way superstar Kawhi Leonard. As a rookie OG proved to be a force on the defensive end of the ball, even earning crunch time playoff minutes against LeBron James. The offense has been shaky but the potential is quite clearly there, on a young/rebuilding team he would be placed in a position where he could develop and flourish offensively.

The Raptors would also be sending veterans C.J. Miles and Jonas Valanciunas as part of the package. Each has two years left on their contracts with a player option in the second year(Both will likely re-sign). Both are capable players who can be effective on playoff teams, come year two the Pelicans would be able to flip the players to contenders in order to build up their prospect pool.

The trade-kicker would be two Toronto Raptors’ first-round picks in 2021 and 2023 (each protected top 5). The idea behind this is that the Pelicans would be banking on the Raptors not being able to sign either of the superstars ultimately resulting in high draft picks.

Why the Raptors say yes:

Anthony-freaking-Davis. Should I say more? 5-time Allstar, 3-time All-NBA, and 3-time All-Defensive. AD is a game changer, forever stuck on a  bad Pelicans team. He’s upped his game even higher setting career averages in points (29.3), rebounds (13.3), assists (4.4) and steals (1.7). As a Raptors fan, I need you to imagine pairing AD with Leonard… Then tie it all together with Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka and Danny Green and this team are begging to sound like an All-Defensive lineup…

Adding to AD are a few depth pieces and salary fillers, spearheaded by Tim Frazier who’s been a serviceable backup in the league for years. During his five years in the league, Frazier has found success on four different teams (even being brought back for a second stint in New Orleans). Also coming in the deal is 3rd-year player Cheick Diallo who, coming into college was a 5-star recruit. Diallo is a high-flyer with untapped potential, and adding another lanky big wouldn’t hurt the line-up. The last piece would be undrafted rookie Kenrich Williams who hasn’t really left a mark and is viewed as salary piece.

For the Raptors, it’s all or nothing this year, they made their bed trading away Franchise cornerstone DeMar DeRozan for Leonard but now it’s ‘do or die’. Whether Leonard stays or not the Raptors need to go big and make a statement that things are different this time around.  AD will bring an entirely new level to the Raptors, it would effectively separate them from the rest of the East giving them the best chance to dethrone the Golden State Warriors.

Getting AD will be a tall ask for Masai Uriji and the rest of the Raptors brass but if anyone has the available prospects and picks for a rebuild it’s the Raptors. The addition of AD would be like when Thanos got the final stone, everything is over.