Toronto Raptors: 4 “bad contracts” worth trading for this offseason

No. 1: Andrew Wiggins

The Golden State Warriors were already bounced early from the NBA postseason and will face significant changes this summer as well. It's one thing for the Boston Celtics or Minnesota Timberwolves to advance in the postseason and pay a massive team salary; it's quite another for the Warriors to finish 10th and be one of the five most expensive teams in the league.

That's why they will try to eliminate salary this summer, whether by letting Chris Paul walk, waiving Keon Looney or playing hardball in negotiations with Klay Thompson. Another option is trading an expensive player like Andrew Wiggins to either reduce salary or bring back a different kind of player.

As a Canada native Wiggins may welcome a trade to the 905 and buy into being the older veteran on a rebuilding team. The Raptors could merely take on Wiggins' salary in full, likely for a nominal cost if not for free. They could also trade back Bruce Brown, a solid veteran on an expiring contract who would save the Warriors a few million this season and then wipe the books clean the next summer. What about Jakob Poeltl, an upgrade on Trayce Jackson-Davis at center?

Wiggins is a real two-way wing who has struggled with injuries and consistency the past two seasons after balling out as part of the Warriors' 2022 championship team. Landing Wiggins could be a way for the Raptors to rehabilitate a valuable player and flip him for value, but it could also be a way to add an ideal role player to start alongside Scottie Barnes.

Whether the Raptors use their salary cap space to take back some bad contracts or as a way to reduce the cost on a valuable wing, they don't simply have to use it to pursue players in free agency.