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

1 Signing: Isaac Okoro

The Toronto Raptors have stout interior defense with Jakob Poeltl and roving havoc defense with Scottie Barnes. Their backcourt defense is more in the "adequate" range, however, between Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and whoever is retained around and behind them. There is no difference-maker to put on opposing guards to ruin their day.

Enter Isaac Okoro, one of the league's premier guard defenders. He can pick up an opposing point guard in their backcourt, harry them the length of the court, slither over screens to stay glued to them and contest the shot brilliantly if he hasn't already knocked it free with quick hands. If you need someone to slow down an opposing point guard, Okoro is your guy.

Unfortunately for Okoro and the Cleveland Cavaliers, they have a lot of guys, and their team is only going to get more expensive. The payday that Okoro is looking for may not be coming, and if that is the case, he could be vulnerable to another team stepping in and signing him away from Cleveland.

The Raptors could bring him off the bench to wreak havoc on opposing guards or even start him in certain matchups to take on All-Star point guards from the jump. His outside shooting has improved but is not a weapon; what is a weapon is his smart cutting, something that will help Quickley and Barnes grow as passers. Defensively he fills a role that Toronto desperately needs to fill.

Neither Kevin Huerter nor Isaac Okoro are game-changing additions. The Raptors would obviously be even more competitive if they signed Paul George and traded for Joel Embiid. These moves represent a realistic path forward, one the Raptors can choose to take to propel them back into the postseason next year.