How every single deadline trade impacts the Toronto Raptors
In what was supposed to be a quiet trade deadline, the NBA saw a tremendous action. It might not seem like it, but every trade impacts the Toronto Raptors some way. We broke down every deal.
The Toronto Raptors had an eventful trade deadline, to say the least. Jonas Valanciunas, C.J. Miles, Delon Wright, Greg Monroe, Malachi Richardson all gone. Coming in? Marc Gasol. While the Raptors were making their moves, the rest of the NBA wasn’t exactly waiting idly by.
19 total trades, happening either the day before or the day of the trade deadline. And in some way, every single deal impacts the Raptors.
76ers receive: Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, Mike Scott
Clippers receive: Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, Landry Shamet, 2020 76ers 1st, 2021 Miami 1st, two 2nd rounders
How it impacts the Toronto Raptors:
No trade other than the Marc Gasol deal (and perhaps even more than that) had a bigger impact on the Raptors, both now and in the future.
Tobias Harris, and to a MUCH lesser extent Mike Scott, make the Philadelphia 76ers better right now. Harris averaged 20 points per game this season with the Clippers and serves as a fantastic fit as the team’s starting power forward. He can shoot, defend, and is talented attacking close-outs. Philly was a faux-contender up until this point. They’re legitimate now.
As one of the Raptors biggest opponents in the Eastern Conference improved, their biggest rival to signing Kawhi Leonard got a HAUL in return. The 76ers overpaid for Harris. Giving an extremely valuable Miami 2021 unprotected first.
We discussed the deal from both the 76ers and the Clippers perspective in greater detail, but to sum it up in one sentence, “This deal hurt Toronto from both ends.”
Lakers receive: Reggie Bullock
Pistons receive: Svi Mykhailiuk, 2nd round pick
This trade……had significantly less impact on the Raptors. Reggie Bullock is a solid three-and-D option, and if Toronto and Detroit are matched up in the first round, it would make things slightly easier. Perhaps a sweep rather than a five-game series.
76ers receive: Malachi Richardson, 2022 2nd rounder, Draft rights to Emir Peldzic
Raptors receive: Cash Considerations
In what can only be described as a cash-saving move, the Raptors dumped Malachi Richardson in a Philadelphia trade exception for cash in return. You can read more about the cap implications of the deal here.