Grade the Trade: Raptors get back savvy Aussie for SG who was leaving anyway in pitch

The Toronto Raptors are ready for the season to end.

Hopefully, the returns of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley will help break the team's losing streak and give this franchise something positive to grasp onto heading into the offseason, but it likely won't be enough to wipe the taste of devastating loss out of their mouths. Especially for a team that tried to bring back talent over draft capital in resetting the roster, this is a painful finish.

Once the season officially ends, however, they can turn their full attention to this summer. They will have as many as three strong picks in the draft and a significant amount of cap space. They can also look to utilize the trade market to upgrade the roster, and perhaps even to recoup value for a player who could walk in free agency.

Gary Trent Jr. is likely leaving anyway

Gary Trent Jr. is having a career year for the Raptors, for all that it has gone largely unnoticed and isn't changing their fates as a bottom-dweller. Although his volume has decreased his efficiency has improved, and he has had multiple games leading the team in scoring. It may have been enough to draw the eye of other teams interested in signing him this offseason.

It could also open up avenues for the Raptors to execute a sign-and-trade to send Trent to another team and take back one or more players in addition to draft compensation. That's the kind of savvy team management that allows a franchise to benefit even from a player walking out the door.

Let's look at one such example to see how the mechanics would work and whether it makes sense for the Raptors to try and pull off.