Grade the Trade: Raptors help Warriors land All-Star in blockbuster proposal

Grading the trade for the Raptors

The list of teams willing and able to take back Bruce Brown is dwindling, and the Raptors don't want to go into the season with Brown and his $23 millions till on the roster. This deal would let them move him for a high-upside pick swap and a pair of solid second-round picks; it's not a blockbuster return of draft capital, but it's something.

The key piece of the deal is Andrew Wiggins, and he rightfully doesn't have a strong market value right now after some up-and-down play the last two years. Yet the skillset of Wiggins is exactly what teams should be pursuing and taking a chance on, a rangy, athletic wing who can defend multiple positions and on offense can both shoot and create his own shot.

It's certainly the kind of player who fits perfectly on the Raptors. He could enter the starting lineup at the 3 and slide RJ Barrett to the 2, taking on the toughest perimeter defensive assignment and slotting Barrett and Immanuel Quickley into better defensive roles. When you factor in that he is a Toronto-area native the possibility of that support helping to stabilize his career enters the picture as well.

Wiggins is just 29 years old and making reasonable money on the final two years of his deal, and if he does boucne back the Raptors will have the ideal role player to fit into their core, the veteran wing with championship experience who can help this team grow up and reach the heights it is pursuing. If it doesn't work out, the Raptors can move on in two years and not have cost themselves much actionable flexibility.

This is a solid deal for the Raptors and one they should strongly consider making.

Grade: A