Grade the Trade: Raptors pair Paul George with Kawhi to defend title in alternate past

Would the Raptors have been title favorites?

Giving up Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet would have been a significant blow to the Raptors. VanVleet’s 3-point eruption against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals saved Toronto and propelled them toward a series victory, while Siakam was the team’s second-best player throughout the playoff run and was especially dominant in the NBA Finals.

On the other hand, Paul George was at the height of his powers in 2019, coming off of a third-place MVP finish with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He led the league in steals, dropped 28 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, and showed new growth as a playmaker, averaging 4.1 assists (he would average more than five per game 3 times in the next 5 seasons). He was a Top-10 offensive player and a Top-10 defensive player that season. He would have been a superb addition to the Raptors.

Assuming that Danny Green elects to stick around for another run at a title with Kawhi Leonard, this is what the rotation may have looked like:

Starters: Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marc Gasol

Bench: Norman Powell, Patrick McCaw, OG Anunoby, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Chris Boucher

While it lacks some heft, that group was close to the modern ideal of two-way wings and forwards able to be swapped for one another in various combinations. Green, George, Leonard and Anunoby are four of the 10 or so best 3-and-D wing/forwards of the last half-decade, and they would all have been on one team. This was a group optimized for the playoffs, and they would have a few options to add a backup point guard and another center in free agency or via trade.

The Warriors were taken out of contention due to injuries, and the Clippers would never have been formed. The Los Angeles Lakers won the West and the title, but they would be short Danny Green and wouldn’t match up particularly well with the Raptors. The greatest threats would come from the East, with the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat particularly fearsome foes.

Even so, the Raptors would likely have been the favorites. Both Leonard and George were healthy in the playoffs that season, and they would be playing alongside a rotation that was playoff tested. A title was by no means guaranteed, but the Raptors would certainly have been in the top tier of title contenders.