The Bucks traded two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one pick swap, and one second-round pick. With that, Milwaukee has officially entered rebuild mode, which means that the Raptors could finally have a real shot at Myles Turner.
Turner, who shot 38.3% from three last season and averaged 1.6 blocks per game, would be a great fit on a Raptors team that lacks floor spacing, particularly in the frontcourt with Scottie Barnes and non-shooter Jakob Poeltl. Ideally, the Raptors would send Gradey Dick, who fell out of the rotation this season and seems ready for a new NBA home, and Poeltl to Milwaukee. The reality is much less ideal.
“A deal built around Poeltl and Dick would work financially,” Raptors reporter Michael Grange reported on June 22. “The rebuilding Bucks would undoubtedly be looking for first-round picks as compensation for taking on an extra year of Poeltl’s contract. How many would be the question.”
Whether the Raptors should trade for Turner mainly depends on how many first-round picks it would take. First-round picks are a valuable commodity for an organization that needs to build cheap depth behind its expensive stars and could still be holding out for a blockbuster deal to get Scottie Barnes a better co-star.
Turner may be a clear upgrade over Poeltl fit-wise, but he is also fresh off his worst statistical season in points, rebounds, and blocks per game since his rookie campaign in 2015-16. Sending out two players and draft assets could quickly mean overpaying for a role player.
At the right price, Turner could be a great fit in Toronto
Turner’s most appealing asset is his 3-point shot. It’s not every day that you have the chance of adding a player who is 6’11” but shoots 3-pointers at a higher volume and more accurately than most players on your roster. Having a floor spacing big next to Barnes, who shot 30.4% from three this past season—very much in line with his career average—would make it much easier for the Raptors to create offense in the halfcourt.
Moreover, Turner’s ability to protect the rim should also intrigue the Raptors. Barnes was the only player on the team to average at least one block per game during the regular season. The Raptors already ask him to do so much on that end of the floor that anything that alleviates some of the pressure on him is valuable. With Turner in the mix, Barnes wouldn’t have to defend the best player on the other team every game and be the primary rim protector at the same time.
Still, several draft picks would be a steep price for Turner.
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