You play GM: Decide the fate of the Toronto Raptors offseason
The Marc Gasol trade
With the Raptors re-tooling for 2021, they’ll have a couple of players they can send out to contenders for a lesser talent and an asset. Of the Raptors core pieces, they’ll likely keep about half. The older players, they’ll try to dump for assets.
Possible suitors for Raptors veterans:
- Marc Gasol – Charlotte Hornets, ????
- Kyle Lowry – Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns
- Serge Ibaka – Orlando Magic, Portland Trailblazers, slim pickings
- Norman Powell – Should be made available for the right price. Market tough to judge.
The problem with the Raptors veterans is that they currently make a sizeable salary. Good teams, typically don’t have giant cap holds who aren’t vital to the team’s success. However, if Toronto can find a middling team or two who are looking for short-term success, they might have something.
The Gasol Deal
For Gasol, the most logical trading partner is the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets had an interest in Gasol just last season, and now, should be able to get him for slightly cheaper. Gasol will pair next to Kemba Walker quite nicely, and Charlotte can compete for a six-seed.
To make it work, the Raptors will need to take back old-friend Bismack Biyombo and athletic forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. For the downgrade in talent, Toronto should be able to receive a lottery-protected first round pick. It’s not a lot, but what else can you expect for an aging center making $25.5 million.
It would be great if the Raptors could generate other offers similar to the Hornets. However, there just aren’t many options. Perhaps Orlando loses Nikola Vucevic and is desperate. Perhaps Sacramento gets no-one and is desperate. For now, Charlotte feels like the only deal on the table.
The Raptors point guard, Kyle Lowry, will command a different market.