In a recent article by Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report titled "1 Trade Every NBA Team Should Propose Right Now," he discussed an interesting trade proposal between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors.
Swartz' proposed trade involves the following assets:
In it, the Raptors sell high on Jakob Poeltl, whose name has been discussed in trade rumors, despite Toronto's hesitancy to part ways with the surging Austrian center. But if the Raptors were to part ways with Poeltl, is what they're getting back in return enough to suffice for his loss?
Does the allure of adding Moses Moody to this young Raptors squad make up for it?
In a three-for-two player swap, the Raptors would bite on a hypothetical trade offer that involves no draft picks at all, making Moody the key asset here. It's kind of hard to see Toronto getting a deal done without trying to snag some draft capital, but let's explore what makes the former Warriors lottery pick an enticing trade piece.
After a lone collegiate season at Arkansas, Moody declared for the 2021 NBA Draft, where he was widely projected to be selected in the lottery. Sure enough, Moody's name was called right at the end of the lottery, as he was selected 14th overall by the Golden State Warriors. He immediately joined a Warriors squad that would go on to return to peak NBA glory in 2022, making Moody an NBA champion in just his rookie campaign.
At the cost of an NBA title to boast, Moody's development in Golden State could be best described as hampered at best. Moody would be used from time to time in the Warriors' rotation, but playing less than 20 minutes per game in three seasons isn't going to see a true breakout. And in the years that followed, it became clear that the Warriors would prioritize giving opportunities to guys like Jonathan Kuminga or even Brandin Podziemski.
Needless to say, the Dubs may have left Moses Moody stuck in NBA purgatory. He is by no means a bad player and deserves minutes, but Golden State is simply not the place for him to get them. Moody is a stellar three-point shooter, and with a 6-foot-5 build, he can play a serviceable role as a potential 3-and-D wing or two guard. He isn't a tremendous defender by any means, but the building blocks are in place for the right development staff to bring out the best of this aspect of Moody's game.
With all that said, would the Toronto Raptors be an appropriate change of scenery for Moody to thrive? Who knows what Moody's preferred destination might be, but his skills could be greatly utilized in the Six.
Can Moses Moody flourish as a member of the Toronto Raptors?
At just 22 years old and already a solid producer in a larger role (averaging 17.3 points with 39% shooting efficiency from three per 36 minutes), Moody could seamlessly fit into the Raptors' lineup, similar to a player of Ochai Agbaji's caliber. Consider how Agbaji's tenure with the Raptors has progressed since his arrival from the Jazz. He was initially regarded as a draft bust, but he has emerged as a pivotal role player for the Raptors moving forward.
There’s a world where Moody could even emerge as a starter with the Raptors, potentially competing with the previously mentioned Agbaji and Gradey Dick. As great as Dick is, and he certainly has his supporters in the Raptors fanbase, there are question marks surrounding his ability to be even an average defender in the NBA. However, as young players go through growing pains, fans shouldn’t lose all hope just yet.
Moreover, Moody shares an element of camaraderie with the Raptors' franchise star Scottie Barnes, with whom he shared the court during their high school days at Montverde Academy, alongside 2021 first overall pick Cade Cunningham.
So, how does it sound with these thoughts in mind? It sounds pretty good, right? Moses Moody might be another prototypical Raptors target capable of bringing out the best in his game and elevating his potential. It would definitely hurt for Toronto to lose a significant anchor in the paint in Poeltl, but if they could recoup his services with a solid addition (please, no starter minutes for Kelly Olynyk), then why not take a shot at Moody?
The maestro Masai Ujiri probably wouldn't want to let Poeltl leave without trying to secure a draft pick, so maybe throw in a late first-round pick or some second-round picks on Golden State's behalf, and this could be a deal worth exploring. But even without it, Moody gets a two thumbs up as a seemingly perfect fit with the Toronto Raptors.