Toronto Raptors: 3 former players who should return via trade
The Toronto Raptors could use some old reinforcements to help propel them towards the playoffs right now. After posting a below .500 record through 26 games, the Raptors need help. Although they have plenty of talent, they don’t have much depth, and that is what is undermining their title push.
If Pascal Siakam or Fred VanVleet has an off-night, this team isn’t winning. Even when they do shine, it’s sometimes not enough to get a win, so they need more depth.
Whether it’s the center position or another guard to run the second-unit, the Raptors could use another few players to help them compete in the Eastern Conference.
There are plenty of old Raptors who could help this young roster, but we had to narrow it down to these three.
I miss the hell out of Jonas Valanciunas. Ditto DeMar DeRozan, but those two trades won the Raptors a championship.
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) February 9, 2021
Collateral damage, unfortunately.
3 Former Toronto Raptors Who Should Return
No. 3: Delon Wright
Drafted 20th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Wright is progressing into a very good depth player. Wright is a lengthy guard standing tall at 6-foot-5, who has a high basketball intelligence and can score at the rim. He’s also a pretty good three-point shooter, averaging 37.3 percent from beyond the arc this year.
Currently stuck on the Detroit Pistons, who are the worst team in the Eastern Conference, Wright has been a bright spot on that roster. Although he’s only averaging 9.7 points, 4.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game as a starter most nights, he’s had a few monster performances. His best game of the season came against the Philadelphia 76ers, where he registered 28 points, seven rebounds and nine assists en route to a rare victory.
Could Wright help the Raptors off of the bench?
The Raptors could desperately use another scorer or someone to lead the second unit offense, and Wright could be that player. The Pistons are well on their way to a high lottery pick, and although Wright is a great piece, he’s not a superstar to build around. As a result, the Pistons could use him as an asset to acquire another draft pick.
Finding a player on a lesser contract would also be ideal for the Raptors, so Wright’s $9M per year deal is very affordable. It would be interesting to see what the Pistons would want in return for him, but if the price is “Wright”, he would be a welcome addition to the roster.