This past Sunday afternoon revealed a hungry, rising team in the Eastern Conference eager to make a push toward becoming genuine title contenders, as the Orlando Magic executed the first blockbuster trade of the summer by acquiring talented Grizzlies swingman Desmond Bane.
But in the process, acquiring Bane to "O-Town" did not come cheap, as the Magic had to attach a handful of unprotected draft capital to bring the lights-out shooter aboard.
In my response to the trade, I highlighted Toronto's brilliance in executing the Brandon Ingram deal with less draft capital, while also noting that the Bane deal functioned somewhat as a salary dump for struggling veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Regardless of what it cost to acquire Bane, the reality is that for the teams out East, they’ve just gained an even more formidable foe in the Orlando Magic. For a long time, their biggest weakness has been finding a consistent offensive threat on the wings to support the talented forward duo of Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero.
They had nearly all the puzzle pieces in place, and although the KCP signing was an attempt to address this, it largely proved ineffective as the season progressed. Bane might be one player who can help fill that gap, and while he may not single-handedly solve all their problems, his impact will undoubtedly be a tremendous boost.
So, drawing from that, where do the Toronto Raptors stand now that one of their Eastern Conference foes has fully committed with a major roster move?
Are the Toronto Raptors next up to complete a major trade out East?
You've probably seen the cluttered rumors section here on Raptors Rapture, which references several reports by NBA insiders suggesting Toronto is on the hunt for some "big fish" on the market — like Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Here's the thing though: as much as I see those guys as the ultimate pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I've come to realize that Toronto often finds itself as the odd man out in conversations about teams vying for a star. Additionally, I previously highlighted how Kevin O'Connor suggested that Masai Ujiri's bold pursuit of a star might be a strategy to impress the front office and, in turn, subtly fool the fanbase.
Don't get me wrong; I have no doubt that Ujiri can work his magic and pull off a deal when no one expects it. But in the vein of this Desmond Bane deal, I can definitely see a scenario where the Raptors miss out on a major name, yet leverage their tradable assets (though to a lesser extent than in the Magic deal) to land a similar fringe All-Star or solid starter caliber player.
Toronto, like Orlando, has many of the right puzzle pieces already in place but just needs a few roster tweaks to truly become serious threats. While the Magic’s bold trade might not necessarily force the Raptors into making a move, they certainly can’t imagine ending this buzzing summer without some form of transaction — whether chasing that big fish or making smaller adjustments.
If Toronto decides to stand pat while others around them are making bold moves and improving, it could fuel the perception that they are falling behind their competition. I've already heard that sentiment discussed for some time.
Any team has the potential to surprise the world, and Toronto is clearly aware of this. Now, it's up to them to follow Orlando’s lead, but perhaps not with five first-round picks involved in the deal.