The Raptors have a busy summer ahead of them as they try to improve the roster enough to build significantly on this season’s success. Given that most spots on the Raptors’ roster are already filled and several of those players are signed to expensive long-term contracts, upgrading the roster won’t be easy.Â
The Raptors have run into roadblocks, like the fact that no team wants to trade for Jakob Poeltl, when trying to make big trades before. They had their eyes on Jaren Jackson Jr. and Domantas Sabonis at the trade deadline, but got stuck on the Jakob Poeltl part of it all, and the Kings were reportedly also not interested in Immanuel Quickley. Brandon Ingram, who put together a disappointing playoff run and had to have heel surgery, also won’t be easy to move.Â
Even re-signing Sandro Mamukelashvili could prove to be much more complicated than it sounds. Mamukelashvili is almost certain to decline the player option that he easily outplayed this season, become a free agent, and draw a lot of interest from teams looking to add a floor-spacing big—and who doesn’t need that in the modern NBA? The Raptors are limited in what they can offer him, and while Mamukelashvili has said that he would like to stay in Toronto, a big paycheck could lure him away.Â
Amid all of that uncertainty and the many complicated situations, there is one move that should be fairly easy to accomplish: trading Gradey Dick. Moving Dick will free up the money necessary to re-sign Mamukelashvili or add any other impactful free agent, and several teams should be willing to try their luck with a young player who may just need a fresh start.Â
Gradey Dick’s possible availability has already drawn interestÂ
Gradey Dick’s impressive 3-point shooting never made the move from Kansas to Toronto, and he eventually fell out of the Raptors’ rotation this season. Nevertheless, the sense that his time with the Raptors has come to an end has already prompted several writers to suggest that their teams should make the move and see if they can unlock Dick. The list of teams mentioned includes the Detroit Pistons, as well as several Western Conference teams, like the Clippers, Trail Blazers, Pelicans, and even the Lakers.Â
Despite Dick’s disappointing third season, teams should consider him an interesting trade target. After he fell out of the rotation and saw a total of four playoff minutes, the Raptors cannot expect to get much for him. So, teams will get a shot at a young player who still has potential for a low price. It’s a low-risk, high-reward move.
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