Toronto Raptors: Has the door closed on Anthony Davis?

The Toronto Raptors declined to trade for Anthony Davis before the end of the trade deadline. Has the window closed on Davis joining the Raptors this summer?

Anthony Davis is getting traded. There’s been no doubt about that, it’s just a matter of time. Ever since Davis announced that he wanted to move on from the New Orleans Pelicans, the writing has been on the wall. But is Anthony Davis getting traded to the Toronto Raptors?

Well, that depends on the direction of this off-season, and there’s a lot riding on it.

This off-season is shaping up to be the biggest in Toronto Raptors history. They could either start next season with one star, two stars or potentially no stars. What’s more likely though?

First of all, the stars in question are Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard. Any scenario where you end up with these two guys leading your team is a winning scenario, regardless of what you give up for Davis.

Kawhi Leonard has a player option worth $21,329,750 for next season, which he’s destined to decline in search of a big money deal. Whether that deal is with Toronto is an entirely different question, but let’s lean towards the idea that Kawhi Leonard leaves Toronto this summer, for now.

If that’s the case, the Raptors are sure to be out on the Anthony Davis sweepstakes for the time being. With Dell Demps being fired, the Pelicans issued a statement on the Anthony Davis situation, saying that they would do what’s best for the organization.

In theory, that could well favor the Toronto Raptors, as a package revolving around Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and a litany of picks would be enough to turn a few glances. Both players have the potential to be star caliber players on any team.

Sadly, in this alternate and potentially real timeline, the Raptors don’t have Kawhi Leonard anymore.

A big three of Anthony Davis, Kyle Lowry, and Marc Gasol is mouthwatering, but the latter two are another year older and all three are free agents in the summer of 2020.

A Davis trade most likely leaves the Raptors a little thin for depth, and with all three players potentially out of the door in the summer of 2020, maybe a trade doesn’t make sense right now.

The vertical ascension of Pascal Siakam has almost overshadowed the impending Kawhi Leonard, and while OG Anunoby has struggled this year, his upside is in plain view. An exceptional defender on and off the ball, Anunoby has the ability to turn himself into an All-NBA caliber defender if he plays his cards right.

Giving up all that potential is a lot, especially if Kawhi Leonard is a goner. If the Raptors fail to retain Davis in the summer of 2020, the future gets bleak. Fast.

Masai Ujiri crafted a perfect deal to get Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green north of the border, giving up, what can be viewed as limited assets to gain two key components in a title-winning team.

Whether he can catch lightning in a bottle for a second time though seems a little more difficult. The Pelicans need for an All-Star like player is tantamount to pushing a deal over the edge, and with a mediocre supporting cast outside of Jrue Holiday and Julius Randle, the Raptors will mostly like have to take on salary filler in the shape of Solomon Hill.

The semantics of the deal really mean the Raptors will struggle to come out of the deal as long term winners, although, one more shot at the title while Lowry and Gasol still have mileage left in the tank could be too big of an opportunity to pass up on.

For the sake of a secure future, maybe the Raptors should close the window themselves. Especially without Kawhi.