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4 Atlantic Division rivals the Raptors could trade for in 2022

By Mike Luciano

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 10: Gary Trent Jr. #33 of the Toronto Raptors drives against Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 10: Gary Trent Jr. #33 of the Toronto Raptors drives against Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors, Payton Pritchard
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 28: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics drives to the net against Chris Boucher #25 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

3. Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics

Both Boston and Toronto used a 2020 first-round pick on a West Coast point guard that could give a playoff team some extra juice. Both Pritchard and Flynn had promising rookie years, but neither of them are taking the leap that their teams expected.

Pritchard is averaging 5.1 points and 1.2 assists per game this season, both of which are career-worst marks for the former Oregon star. His 10.5 minutes per game show that interim head coach Joe Mazzulla is struggling to get him some playing time behind Malcolm Brogdon.

Payton Pritchard could improve with the Toronto Raptors.

Pritchard has made over 40% of his triples, and he’s shown the requisite defensive effort that Nurse liked to see from guards that he leans on for heavy minutes. Boston is much further ahead in their championship pursuit than Toronto, which isn’t ideal for a guard like Pritchard.

The Raptors, meanwhile, would give Pritchard a longer developmental runway while still playing some meaningful basketball. Getting his solid 3-point shot on the roster, perhaps at the expense of pro-am legend Flynn, might be better for the Raptors as they try to find some consistency on the bench.