Royce O’Neale stands out as a realistic Raptors trade target

The Toronto Raptors are never going to be an attractive free agent destination due to their geographic issues, so Masai Ujiri needs to be very proactive in the trade market as he looks to improve the team. The Brooklyn Nets, who may take a look at Fred VanVleet, might be able to help Toronto out here.

On top of the fact they might look for a new point guard as they try to build around Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn must cut salary this offseason. Cam Johnson is expected to command a huge salary, and the Nets must shed some money to avoid getting into the repeat luxury tax.

With Johnson, Bridges, and Dorian Finney-Smith all filling the same 3-and-D role, a player like Royce O’Neale could be on the move. While he had an unusual season one year after being traded for a first-round pick, Brooklyn might be able to dump him without requesting such an expensive package.

O’Neale is not going to be a high-end scorer, but he will help the Raptors maintain their solid defensive structure while providing some adequate 3-point shooting. His finishing will be the key when it comes to determining how high his ceiling will be in his new home.

Can the Toronto Raptors trade for Royce O’Neale?

O’Neale averaged a career-best 8.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while making just under 40% of his 3-pointers. The unusual part of his season came inside the arc. After making 59% of his shots from 2-point range in his last two seasons with the Jazz, his numbers dipped to 38% from that range this past season.

O’Neale will turn 30 years old soon, but that doesn’t mean he is an ancient fossil of no worth in the modern NBA. With just one year left on his deal, the Raptors might be able to snatch him up without surrendering any future first-round draft capital or rotation players. Maybe a Thad Young trade is in order?

If Toronto gets a healthy Otto Porter Jr. and the same O’Neale that was an ace at the rim in his days with Utah, the bench might finally come out of the doldrums and make themselves a collective unit worthy of pursuing a championship in the near future.

The Nets likely won’t give O’Neale away for free, but the Raptors can still bring a high-end talent into the fold if they play their cards right. While he won’t score 20 per game, he could be a perfect safeguard against another Porter injury off the bench.