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3 trade destinations for Raptors’ Khem Birch after rough season

By Mike Luciano

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 30: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers defends Khem Birch #24 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 30: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers defends Khem Birch #24 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors, Khem Birch
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 7: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Utah Jazz drives against Khem Birch #24 and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /

2. Utah Jazz

The Raptors would have to gut most of their future assets to acquire Rudy Gobert in a trade, but Birch could still be thrown into a package to sweeten the deal. If Quin Snyder stays in Utah, the culture that has turned many big men into quality back-ups could help fix Birch.

Snyder has his faults as a coach, but he’s helped Utah be one of the best teams in the league at defending the rim for years on end. Even struggling centers like Hassan Whiteside have chosen to head down to Utah to get their careers back on the right track.

Can the Jazz fix Toronto Raptors big Khem Birch?

If the Jazz decide to keep Mitchell and trade Gobert for a package that includes Birch, there is a nonzero chance that he ends up as the starter if he wins a competition with Udoka Azubuike. Birch would get a much more expansive role than being the third or fourth center on the Raptors.

At his best, Birch can be a reliable glass-crasher. Even during some of his tough stints with Toronto, he remained one of the best offensive rebounders on the team. Birch could be part of the solution when it comes to replacing Gobert, even if Utah will need much more than just one down-on-his-luck Canadian center.