Grade the Trade: Raptors chain themselves to overpaid star in misguided pitch

The Toronto Raptors have some options on the table as they explore the trade market.

They have a rising star in Scottie Barnes that they believe is a future Top-10 player. That is a solid starting point and gives them definition as they build around them. They have also committed to Immanuel Quickley at point guard.

From there, they can build out the rest of the roster. RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl are solid players but not guaranteed to be on the roster for the next five years. Gradey Dick and Ja'Kobe Walter are intriguing young prospects. Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk are valuable veterans who would have value in a trade and can make a lot of matching salary.

The Toronto Raptors could go star hunting

Those trade pieces allow the Raptors to do star hunting if they wish to add another significant piece to the roster. Given the Raptors' tepid history in free agency, and the fact that they may be too good already to land a star talent in the draft, a trade for a star may be the path to take.

That doesn't mean that they should make any star trade that comes available, however. Some stars will simply not fit well with the Raptors' core. Others are too old, on their way down from their primes while Barnes and Quickley are ascending towards theirs.

Others are simply not stars, at least not on the level that they would need to be, but are being paid like stars. That's the situation with one player who was just linked to the Raptors in a potential trade - and trade that would be a disaster for Masai Ujiri to make.

Let's take a closer look at the trade and why the Raptors need to hang up the phone if this is offered to them.