3 Under the Radar Trades the Toronto Raptors could make
By Hani Salehi
Trade #2: Veteran Leadership and Playmaking
This next trade is similar to the first trade however it leans more on getting veteran experience and playmaking off the bench. The Raptors would acquire Patty Mills and Trey Lyles from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Norman Powell, Patrick McCaw, and a 2023 second-round pick.
After the Raptors lost to the Spurs earlier this season, Raptor fans got a great look at what Patty Mills brings to the table. He is a smart savvy point guard who isn’t afraid to play defence and can really shoot well from three. This season so far he is averaging 13 points, and 3 assists per game while shooting a scorching 56% from deep. Patty Mills could be a solid veteran who can come off the bench and create plays on both ends of the floor which the Raptors desperately need right now.
Not to mention with Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet playing a lot of minutes this season, Mills can be that third ball handler and creator to allow Kyle and Fred to rest. Also in this trade, the Raptors get some much-needed depth at power forward.
Trey Lyles is a solid young player who can score and more importantly can play defence against multiple positions. Lyles is also a Canadian so he would be more inclined to play well for his home team.
For this trade, the Raptors would have to part with Norman Powell, however, after the slow start to the season and his inconsistency it might be time for the Raptors to move on from Powell. This trade also frees up over $10 million of cap space for next season, thus giving the Raptors more flexibility for the 2021 offseason.
For the Spurs, this trade would allow them to recoup some quality assets for an aging veteran who no longer fits their timeline. First of all the Spurs would receive a quality player in Norman Powell who has established himself as a scorer and decent defender.
Although the Spurs have a lot of young talent at the shooting guard position, Norman would clearly be a better option than anyone else on their roster. Not to mention he would be a good replacement for DeMar DeRozan who is inevitably going to leave the Spurs this offseason. The Spurs also get a second-round pick in this trade which can help them continue to acquire young talent as they shift into a rebuild.
Overall this is another solid trade idea for the Toronto Raptors that can help solve a lot of the issues that have been plaguing this team so far this season.