1 trade, 1 signing that could make Raptors competitive next season

1 Trade: Bruce Brown for Kevin Huerter

On the surface, if the Toronto Raptors want to be competitive next season, retaining a veteran player who was recently a key part of a championship would be the play. It's possible that Masai Ujiri and the Toronto front office talk themselves into that reality and keep Bruce Brown on the team.

What last season proved, however, is that Brown is not a particularly good fit with this Raptors team. His lack of consistent shooting and value with the ball in his hands is negated playing alongside Scottie Barnes, and even more so when the non-shooting Jakob Poeltl likewise shares the court. Even in lineups with more spacing, Brown was consistently bad for most of his tenure in Toronto.

The Raptors would be better served moving Brown to a team that needs his defense, rebounding and playmaking and getting back a shooter in return. One team and player that fit the bill are the Sacramento Kings and movement shooter Kevin Huerter.

Huerter is a bomber, averaging at least five 3-pointers per game in each of the last five seasons and is probably a player who could even increase that volume further. He is a career 38.2 percent 3-point shooter, but he shot a career-worst 36.1 percent last season and found himself moved out of the starting lineup at times for the Kings.

With Keon Ellis taking a step forward and the team trying to re-sign Malik Monk, Huerter could be a player available for the right offer. He could step in and start for the Raptors this season, then transition into a bench shooter role as Gradey Dick develops. Win now, win later.

Still just 25 years old, Huerter would help open up the floor for Barnes and Immanuel Quickley and drive the Raptors toward wins as early as next season.