The Toronto Raptors could go the entire offseason without completely flipping the roster upside down in a crazy trade, but that doesn’t mean that Masai Ujiri will sit on his hands and stare at a wall in June and July. Plundering the rest of the Eastern Conference could be a solid way to help build a winner.
The East is getting deeper than it has been in years, making it even more challenging for the Raptors to contend in 2022-23 and beyond. There are only a few teams that are mired at the bottom of the conference and stuck in the middle of a very lengthy rebuild.
Toronto should still be trying to make sure that these squads are in a selling mood. With dozens of quality players just ripe for the picking, the answer to Toronto’s weeks of searching could be found in the cellar of their own conference if Ujiri is cavalier enough about parting with assets.
The Raptors should try to acquire these three standouts from teams who likely will not be in the playoff picture. Pulling off one of these trades will help Toronto move ever closer to finally becoming a contender in an Eastern Conference that is getting stronger by the day.
3. Mo Bamba, Orlando Magic
We’ve been banging the Bamba drum for as long as humanly possible, but the fit just makes so much sense after his breakout season that Toronto needs to be made well aware of what he can bring to the table. Do you want a rim protector who can shoot? Here’s the answer to your prayers.
Bamba, who averaged 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game last year, finally earned a starting role and showed that he was worthy of such a high draft pick. However, with Orlando likely moving forward with Jabari Smith at No. 1 overall alongside Wendell Carter Jr. at center, Bamba might be out.
Mo Bamba could end up on the Toronto Raptors.
Bamba is a restricted free agent, meaning that he is an ideal sign-and-trade candidate. Bamba will not come to Toronto without Ujiri and company making an extensive pitch. Still, the idea of being a role player on a contender could appeal after years of losing in Orlando.
Bamba is one of the few players on the free agent market that can be an impact signing at the center spot for a contender without being a high-usage player. Toronto’s lack of size was a common sticking point for some pessimistic fans, and adding Bamba could go a long way towards shutting them up.
2. Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
The Stewart proposition might be the most attractive of the three to some, and rumors of a trade are likely not going away as long as Detroit continues to keep its name in the Deandre Ayton sweepstakes. A big four of Ayton, Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, and the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft could push Stewart out.
Stewart averaged 8.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game last year, flexing his muscles in the paint and becoming a quality rebounder despite his 6-8 frame. Stewart is one of the most versatile centers in the league that carries a 250-pound frame. He could be in for an Achiuwa-esque production bump.
Isaiah Stewart makes sense for the Toronto Raptors.
Stewart might not be the most refined offensive player right now, but that has not been something that has prevented Toronto from rolling on athletic packages in the past. If Ayton or another big name comes to man the center spot, Stewart could become a sought-after trade chip.
Stewart and Achiuwa teaming up on the bench would give the Raptors a nasty 1-2 punch. Likewise, Stewart moving over to the starting spot and allowing Gary Trent Jr. to chuck up as many shots as possible on the bench might be a prudent move to make. If Stewart keeps improving, the possibilities are endless.
1. Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers
Someone, please save this man! Hield was putting up solid numbers in Sacramento during the prime of his career, but the trade he was angling for sent him to perhaps an even worse situation in Indiana. The Pacers need to rebuild, and Toronto has the players they need in a trade.
Hield averaged 18.2 points per game on 45/36/89 shooting splits with the Pacers. While he is not and likely never will be a good defender in this league, he is the spitting image of the instant offense that the Raptors have been searching for in the last two years.
Buddy Hield could be a lethal scorer for the Toronto Raptors.
Hield will make less than $22 million in each of the next two seasons. While that is a substantial investment for a player that is a huge negative on the defensive end, it’s generally regarded as chump change for a proven scorer and shooter at this level. Hield will be on a contender soon.
Hield might be a bit of a risk, as Indiana will likely require a first-round pick with no protections and most of Toronto’s current bench. If Hield’s price can be slightly negotiated down to somewhere more doable for Toronto, Ujiri might be in a position to pull the trigger and bring him up north.