Grade the Trade: Raptors steal All-Star from Warriors in bold blockbuster pitch

The Toronto Raptors are occupying an interesting middle ground, with an expensive team of young players who don't look ready to contend but are too good to tank. One option is to trade all of their veterans and try to lose enough games to add a future star to their core.

Another option is to swing the other way, cashing in some assets to add another star to this core. They likely don't have the scratch to add a true All-NBA level of talent, but there also don't appear to be any such players available. One player who is available, however, is Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen.

The Raptors could make a big swing

The Golden State Warriors have been the frontrunners for Lauri Markkanen for weeks, but there is no apparent traction on a deal, and may not be until August 6th, when Markkanen can renegotiate and extend his current contract. That may open up a possible window for another team to swoop in and pluck Markkanen away.

Could the Raptors be that team? Could they add an offensive dynamo to their young core to elevate them to the next level? It would be a difficult task, as they would need to outbid the Warriors and any other teams, pay enough to convince Utah to move on from him, and at the same time keep together the core of their team in order to make it possible to compete once they add Markkanen. Add in the fact that Markkanen is currently set to be a free agent next summer and it only adds tension to the conversation.

What would it look like for the Raptors to trade for Markkanen? Would the trade be worth making? Let's look at one such proposal and evaluate it from all sides.