Pros and Cons of Raptors trading for Bulls star Zach LaVine
By Mike Luciano
Verdict
The Raptors need to hold off on trading for LaVine. Making a win-now trade for a star is not a bad idea in principle, but Toronto would be better off looking for someone else that better fits the team’s timeline and needs in the next few years. LaVine is too much of a change.
The Raptors need to make one of two trades to improve the roster. They must either trade Pascal Siakam to get a haul of assets that can be used to build a bench or add a tertiary star behind Barnes and Siakam that supplements them. LaVine would do neither of the sort.
The Toronto Raptors must refuse trading for Zach LaVine.
Ujiri’s last two big trades haven’t gone according to plan, as he gave the Spurs two first-round picks (one of which will likely be in the lottery) to acquire a largely inactive reserve in Thad Young and a center that has gotten off to a volatile start in Jakob Poeltl. Imagine what LaVine’s market will look like.
Toronto might be in a position to make improvements to their clearly imperfect roster, but would they be in the right to commit to a core that is so clearly flawed while adding a defensive negative that is going to cost a ton in LaVine?