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4 desperate teams who could overpay for Raptors’ stars in trade

By Mike Luciano

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 12: Austin Rivers #25 of the Denver Nuggets strips the ball from Fred VanVleet (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 12: Austin Rivers #25 of the Denver Nuggets strips the ball from Fred VanVleet (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
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Dyson Daniels, Toronto Raptors
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 30: Dyson Daniels #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

3. New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans went from a feel-good story to one of the league’s biggest horror shows in very short order, as they have lost eight straight games following an injury to All-Star starter Zion Williamson. The Pelicans have great depth, but they haven’t been able to get this team back on track.

The Pelicans are in a unique position in that they have an abundance of role players who could thrive in bigger roles while also possessing more first-round picks than they know what to do with thanks to the Anthony Davis trade. David Griffin could funnel those picks over to Toronto in exchange for a proven star.

The Pelicans could add a star from the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors will certainly have their eyes on recent No. 8 overall pick Dyson Daniels, who is currently a backup behind McCollum. If the Pelicans want to keep him in town, Naji Marshall and Trey Murphy III make sense as two players that Toronto might be able to squeeze out of New Orleans.

The Pelicans, like the Raptors, are a small-market team that will have difficulties attracting free agents. When combined with Williamson’s salary, trading is still the best way for this team to improve and add to its core. Toronto has enough impact players to give New Orleans an edge.