Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors might be moving closer to selling than they have been in years, as a run of poor form has them currently outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture. While they haven’t made a decision on buying or selling just yet, it would take a sharp reversal in play to convince Ujiri they need to win now.
The Raptors have arguably the three most attractive trade chips currently on the market. Fred VanVleet is a champion and All-Star point guard, Gary Trent Jr. is an ascending young guard and expert marksman, and the disgruntled OG Anunoby remains one of the best two-way players at any position in the league.
In a league that has been dominated by parity, dozens of teams may think they have an outside shot at making some noise in a postseason scenario. This could prompt a frenzy at the deadline, with multiple teams fighting with one another to secure one of these big names.
Multiple teams across the league are so desperate to find that one player who will turn them into a contender that they could be willing to quench Toronto’s trade thirst and overpay to an unusual degree. Ujiri and Bobby Webster should be trying to get a deal done with one of these four teams.
4 desperate teams who could trade with the Toronto Raptors.
4. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets might get an unprecedented three consecutive MVP seasons out of Nikola Jokic, but some roster mismanagement and comically unfortunate injury luck have prevented them from advancing past the Western Conference Finals with Jokic on the team. That might come to an end if they nail it at the deadline.
Imagine a player like Anunoby in Denver. Jamal Murray and Anunoby making up an ultra-big backcourt with Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon ending up on the receiving end of Jokic’s passes would be one hell of a roster to overcome for the rest of the West.
Will the Denver Nuggets trade with the Toronto Raptors?
One player the Raptors could end up with in a hypothetical trade is point guard Bones Hyland, who is a tremendous bench scorer that is currently blocked off from more playing time due to the presence of Murray in the starting lineup. Bruce Brown was born to play in Nick Nurse’s defense.
The Nuggets are in a position where they need to start being extremely aggressive, as they will risk wasting Jokic’s prime if they don’t get some deals done. Toronto has as many goods to sell off as any team in the league, which should get Calvin Booth’s head turned east.