The Toronto Raptors need help up front with Aron Baynes not getting the job done – there’s no arguing that. The main question facing the club ahead of the March 25th trade deadline is how focused Masai Ujiri, Bobby Webster, and company are, or should be, on improving their 2020-21 prospects in a season that in all likelihood,= won’t result in an NBA title.
There’s no reason for the Raptors to avoid addressing obvious holes unless they are jeopardizing their long-term growth by sacrificing valuable future assets, something Ujiri would surely avoid doing.
First and foremost among those future assets is Toronto’s 2021 first-round pick. No, the Raptors aren’t about to tank, but they seem poised to make their highest selection since taking Jakob Poeltl ninth overall in 2016. In a seriously deep draft, no less.
If the Raptors take their first-rounder out of the equation in pursuit of help in the middle, their list of realistic trade targets obviously dwindles a bit. Still, that’s not to say that viable impact players can’t be had with a first still in Toronto’s pocket. If you also remove players owed big money in future years, there remain some intriguing options. Here are three of the best.
These three cheap big men could replace Aron Baynes on the Raptors
No. 3: Ed Davis
While most memories of Rudy Gay’s time with the Raptors revolve around the franchise-altering trade that saw him leave the organization, the 2013 deal to acquire him was pretty big at the time. To get the gifted 26-year-old scorer in a three-team deal, the club surrendered long-time cornerstone Jose Calderon, but the real risk was giving up 23-year-old big man Ed Davis.
While Gay lasted less than a year in Toronto, the Raps weren’t exactly burned by the deal, as Davis never developed into anything more than a steady reserve. Still, at 31 years of age, it’s his presence on the glass that has kept him in the league to this point.
Davis could be a solid big off of the bench for the Raptors
Playing in Minnesota, Davis is averaging 5.1 rebounds a night in just 13.9 minutes of playing time. He’s actually out-rebounding 21-year-old teammate Naz Reid despite giving up nearly 50 pounds and eight minutes per game. To put that in a Raptors perspective, Baynes is pulling down 5.4 rebounds a game in five more minutes while earning $2 million more than Davis.
Given that he’s currently playing sparse minutes for the league’s worst team, it probably isn’t realistic to expect Davis to fully replace Baynes’s role. However, as they showed on Tuesday night by topping the Milwaukee Bucks, the Raptors don’t necessarily need to rely on a true center at all times. In that sense, a reunion could work.
When Davis averaged 17.3 rebounds per 36 minutes with the Brooklyn Nets, he showed that he can hoover up rebounds off of the bench. With Toronto lacking in size, a player with his skills is desperately needed.
No. 2: JaVale McGee
All the buzz about Andre Drummond was fun for a while and made for some interesting trade scenarios, but it never felt like there was a workable trade available that didn’t rob Toronto of much of their depth. While the phone lines are open between Webster and Cleveland Cavaliers GM Koby Altman, maybe the name of another Cavs big man could be floated.
To many, McGee is simply a series of ‘Shaqtin’ A Fool’ highlights, but the bulk of his comical miscues came during his early years in Washington and Denver. Now, the 33-year-old may lack the athleticism that helped him become an elite rim protector in his 20’s, but he remains active on the glass and an easy target for high percentage scoring opportunities at the rim.
McGee can rebound and protect the rim for the Raptors
McGee’s 15.5 minutes of floor time per game make for a small sample size, but he has been productive in those minutes. His per 36 minute numbers of 17.8 points and 12.9 rebounds represent a significant improvement from Baynes (10.6 and 10.3).
Furthermore, his $4.2 million contract is far more digestible and matchable than the $28.75 million owed to Drummond this year, which means you could add McGee while still keeping Norm Powell. McGee could be an instant upgrade over Baynes while giving the Raptors another veteran with playoff experience.
No. 1: Hassan Whiteside
Whiteside has led the NBA in blocks and rebounds in the past, all the while averaging 13.5 career points per game. However, red flags have followed the 31-year-old throughout his career amid attitude issues and a reputation as a problematic locker room presence.
A free agent this past off-season, those red flags forced him to settle for a one-year, $2.3 million prove-it deal with Sacramento rather than a long-term, big-money pact. While his numbers this year with the Kings aren’t blowing anyone away (8.4 points, 5.7 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per game), he is shooting nearly 62% from the floor. Could the Raptors try to pick him up?
Can the Raptors control Whiteside?
The Raps thought they were making the ‘safe’ choice in pivoting to Baynes once Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka flew the coop. Now that that’s proven false, the club might be ready to embrace a seven-footer with a mean streak, provided that he buys into their team concept. Kyle Lowry certainly carries enough sway as a locker room leader to keep Whiteside in check.
The Raptors currently find themselves in the thick of a glut of middling Eastern teams, and that positioning leaves Toronto likely to be playing past the regular season. However, that hardly positions them well for a deep playoff run. Rather than buying or selling, a middle ground that allows them to bolster the lineup without sacrificing too much might be the preferred option.
Who do you think the Raptors should chase before March 25th?