Grading a trade pitch where the Raptors join a blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo deal

Grading the Trade for the Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are taking an approach with this trade that adding a second-round pick and young shooting guard Lindy Waters III is worth the multi-year commitment to Andrew Wiggins' contract. The veteran forward is making $58 million in the two seasons after this one, which would only further the Raptors' large financial commitment.

Waters is a confident shooter who just dropped five 3-pointers in 15 minutes in his Warriors preseason debut. He is not just a spot-up threat but can hit off of movement, which would allow him to enter the rotation and stagger behind Gradey Dick to give the Raptors continual shooting punch. Waters is 27 years old but relatively young in terms of NBA playing time, so he may still have untapped potential as a late bloomer in the league.

Where this deal's value truly unfolds is the potential for Andrew Wiggins to become a valuable asset for Toronto. The Ontario native has a track record as a two-way force, a lockdown perimeter defender who can shoot at an above-average clip and create offense for himself. He was an All-Star as recently as 2022 and was the second-best player for the Warriors on a run to the title. He has had a rocky couple of seasons since, impacted by a dying father who pulled him away from basketball, but he could certainly rebound to be a positive two-way player once again.

If so, he would be an ideal fit with the Raptors next to Scottie Barnes, a player who can defend opposing guards and wings and space the court. They could keep him long-term, making an All-Canada wing due of RJ Barrett and Wiggins. They could also flip him to another team, gaining an asset to take him on and then turning him into a positive asset going out. The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled that off multiple times in building their asset pool.

This deal would all-but-guarantee the Raptors don't have cap space for the next two summers, but they likely wouldn't have anyway as Barnes' extension kicks in. Yet Wiggins fits well enough that the upside potential is high, and the downside is not being able to sign a role player in free agency. Either Waters, Wiggins or both could be better than whoever the Raptors would sign.

This looks like a great way to flip Bruce Brown's contract, and if a deal like this comes available the Raptors should pull the trigger.

Grade: A-