The Toronto Raptors will almost certainly be among the buyers at the NBA Trade Deadline, as this roster needs some new blood if they want to remain among the playoff contenders in a very crowded Eastern Conference.
Most of Toronto’s rumored trade activity has centered around veterans like Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond, the Raptors shouldn’t place unnecessary restrictions on themselves by only looking at veterans on the market.
Several high draft picks from previous classes are currently stuck in some bad situations, as their talent is not being developed correctly amid constant losing. In a winning environment like Toronto build on player development, they could start to scratch the surface of their ability under Nick Nurse,
If Masai Ujiri is able to pull off one of these three trades, he could pick up a young player that is still nowhere close to reaching his full potential. Doing so could give the Raptors a young building block who could help in 2021 and beyond.
These 3 trades could get the Raptors some young players
Raptors trade No. 1: Toronto gets Troy Brown Jr. from Washington
Brown looked poised to really become one of Washington’s key offensive pieces after his sophomore season, as he averaged 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 44% from the floor. In the span of one season, Brown has seen his momentum ebb away, playing in just 17 games.
The selection of Deni Avdija in the lottery last year and the signing of Davis Bertans has frozen Brown out of the rotation. Still, Brown is just 21 years old, and he looked to be on the come-up after his performance in the bubble. Toronto might be the best squad in terms of getting the most out of Brown.
How could Troy Brown Jr. help the Raptors?
The raptors could always use some more shooting, but the former No. 15 overall pick can also handle the ball, attack the rim, and play competent defense, even if Washington’s unit as a whole is getting torn up. Nurse has a thing for positionless wings that can move around in several different offensive roles, and Brown fits the bill.
Trading Johnson for Brown gives the Raptors a player with a much higher offensive ceiling, even if the defensive downgrade might be slight in the interim. He is in a complete funk on offense, but the Raptors could give him enough of a platform to overcome his slow start to 2020-21 and become a building block for the future in Toronto.
Raptors trade No. 2: Toronto adds Sekou Doumbouya from Detroit
The Troy Weaver era started off with three first-round picks, one of which was Saddiq Bey, who has instantly taken over from Doumbouya as the preferred option at the small forward position. Doumbouya is averaging just 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game on 35.5% shooting, all of which are decreases from last year.
While he was drafted as a project that saw limited playing time in France, Doumbouya’s regression could prompt Weaver to cut his losses and get rid of him. If he does end up on the market, Nurse could try to rehabilitate the Guinean stud by making him a competent player on the offensive side of the ball.
How will Sekou Doumbouya help the Raptors?
Doumbouya’s stock rise was a result of the fact he is a positonless player, at least in theory. While he has smooth ball-handling, scoring ability inside the perimeter, and quality defense, Dwane Casey hasn’t been able to completely figure him out yet. Nurse, however, might be the better option.
McCaw is a complete waste of roster space at the moment, and Davis hasn’t been able to improve upon his work form his rookie season. While Davis will get a chance to take on a greater offensive role in Detroit, Doumbouya could finally become the best version of himself with the Raptors, as Nurse can turn him into the offensive player he couldn’t become with the Pistons.
Raptors trade No. 3: Toronto snags Marvin Bagley III from Sacramento
Bagley is averaging 14.1 points and 7.6 rebounds for the Kings this year. Those numbers look good at first glance, but they are almost the exact same numbers he put up in his rookie season, showing that he has not made the leap to stardom that Sacramento expected. It appears that the Kings, who have missed the playoffs ever year since 2006, are rebuilding again.
De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton give the Kings a young backcourt for the future, but Bagley could be dealt to a team like the Raptors if they get enough assets in return. A Top 10-protected first-round pick, a solid backup center like Aron Baynes, and a guard like Davis could be enough to convince Sacramento to give Bagley up.
How would Marvin Bagley III help the Raptors?
Bagley is an awful defender, making him one of the main reasons the Kings have been putrid on the defensive end. Nurse and the Raptors should at least be able to make him not horrible on the defensive end, and his offensive potential remains mouth-watering.
Bagley is able to bring the ball up, glide to the rim, rise up from 3-point range, and snag some tough rebounds. And he’s still just 21 years old! Getting picked before Luka Doncic and Trae Young looks bad, but Bagley can still become a star in this league, and the Raptors might be able to turn him around if they’re willing to pay up.