Raptors: This JaVale McGee trade gives Toronto the piece they need

The Toronto Raptors have risen to the forefront of trade talks with all the Kyle Lowry speculation, but whether he ends up getting moved or not there are still holes in the roster that can be filled if addressed correctly. A big man like Andre Drummond or JaVale McGee of the Cleveland Cavaliers has been often discussed as a potential Band-Aid that can be applied on this roster.

The biggest need on this roster the centre position. Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby can both play small ball five in a pinch, but neither can be expected to guard real NBA bigs all the time. Chris Boucher is fun in spurts, but gets bullied by bigger and stronger players. Joel Embiid eats him alive when the team matches up with Philly.

Which leaves Aron Baynes, who for all his lovable qualities, has been a shell of the man fans saw last season. That’s the hole that most urgently needs filling on the Raptors’ roster. A true big guy.  Someone who can rebound, protect the rim, and match the league’s best centres physically.

Most playoff teams have their eyes on an potential matchup with Embiid, Gobert, Giannis, or Jokic, and are trying to stay ahead of the curb.  So when looking for potential trade partners, best the Raptors look outside the playoff picture.

That’s where McGee comes in.

This Raptors-Cavs trade gets JaVale McGee to Toronto

Cleveland is trying to move Drummond around, but the market for him is smaller than one might think. Between Kevin Love and Jarrett Allen, the Cavs don’t have a lot of spare minutes for bench big men like McGee.

Meanwhile they are dead last in the league in points per game at 104.6, and the injection of perimeter offense they’d get from Davis (who’s talented but still sort of blacklisted by Raptors fans) and Thomas (who barely sees the floor) could be an enticing package.

On the flip side, the Raptors would be getting back a veteran roll player who knows who he is.  The team wants some blocks, some rebounds, and some dunks. That’s what McGee can provide and that’s what he’s going to bring.

He’s no longer the knucklehead who was attempting free-throw line dunks, behind the back dribbles, and appearing on Shaqtin’ a Fool every week. This version of McGee has been around the block with enough winning teams to know how to positively effect winning. McGee should be able to pick up a few double-doubles for Toronto.

And if he doesn’t work out? Who cares! He’s on an expiring deal! JaVale becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, so if he stinks the team can just move on.

For those who think that trading a young piece like Davis is too much for an old gaffer like McGee, know that Davis also enters free agency at the end of the 2020-21 season, and you better believe he’s going to want more than the $1.5 million minimum Masai’s paying him now.

I would seriously doubt the Raptors re-sign Davis, so this may be selling high on a young scorer before he walks out the door and the team gets nothing.

At the end of the day the move for McGee won’t push the Raptors into the Finals conversation. The team still isn’t good enough to beat the Nets, 76ers, or Bucks, but if they can continue to improve then there’s no reason why they can’t take down the next tier of teams.

Boston, New York, Miami, and Toronto will all be fighting for that second round appearance, and if the Raptors can tighten up their big man rotation, then they could be the ones left standing in May.