Raptors: This 3-way trade with Charlotte and Portland works for all

Currently, the Toronto Raptors are in no man’s land. The Raptors are not good enough to go deep in the playoffs. But they’re also not terrible enough to be in the lottery. Changes on this roster need to be made, which is why Toronto should make a trade involving a top-three draft pick.

Toronto should contact the Portland Trail Blazers and the Charlotte Hornets to make a three-team trade involving the second and third picks. With some apprehension over

The main pieces of the trade are O.G. Anunoby to the Trail Blazers, the second pick to the Raptors, and the third pick to the Hornets.

Why should the Raptors make this trade?

Toronto gets the opportunity to select the second pick in the draft. Once Victor Wembanyama gets chosen by the San Antonio Spurs, Scoot Henderson might be the best player available. The Raptors will also get Anfernee Simons in the trade, and he could be the budding offensive star they need to be the No. 2 scorer behind Pascal Siakam.

The Raptors need a guard, especially either Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr, or both leave in the offseason. Simons would instantly be one of the best players on this team offensively, and he is still scratching the surface of how good he can be.

The Raptors also get more of a traditional starting lineup with Henderson on the team and Anunoby in Portland Toronto’s potential starting lineup of Henderson, Simons, Scottie Barnes, Siakam, and Jakob Poeltl could be a nightmare.

If VanVleet decides to move on from Toronto, the Raptors don’t have to worry about losing him for nothing in this deal.

Why should the Blazers and the Hornets make this trade with the Raptors?

For the Trail Blazers, they get a great 3-and-D player in Anunoby. If both Jerami Grant and Matisse Thybulle re-sign, they get a solid starting lineup that should make Lillard happy in Portland.

The Hornets will most likely pick Brandon Miller to avoid a logjam with LaMelo Ball, plus the Hornets could use another forward on their roster. The Hornets also get a second-round pick from the Trail Blazers to give Charlotte more ammunition to build a bench.

Flynn and Maledon are also included in this proposed deal to make the financial aspect of the trade work. They are both lottery-ticket options to thrive with their new teams.

Toronto does not have a direction right now, and the Trail Blazers have to do everything they can to make Lillard happy. That’s why a trade that includes the Hornets, who don’t need to draft Henderson, will be beneficial for all sides.