The Raptors suffered a disappointing loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in their most recent game, and both teams added new players in the immediate aftermath.
After last night's affair, it was reported that Toronto shipped out a second-round pick to acquire Trayce Jackson-Davis from the Golden State Warriors. It's far from the ideal big that many fans had hoped Toronto would explore trading for, but it addresses that glaring need nonetheless. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves can bask in the glory of adding gutsy Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, who they acquired in exchange for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks. Chicago's Julian Phillips is also expected to head to Minnesota as part of the deal.
Raptors strike out on Ayo Dosunmu as he's traded to the Timberwolves
After what was a wild turn of events for Toronto on February 4 — letting a game falter so dramatically against the Minnesota Timberwolves — it definitely hurts to see that same team escape like bandits with someone I thought should've been on the Raptors' radar. I get that Toronto is trying to be cost-efficient at all costs now, ducking the tax and limiting expenses, but you mean to tell me their salary-dumping efforts for Ochai Agbaji couldn't have been done with the Bulls instead?
Toronto could have just used the two second-rounders they dealt — one to get rid of Agbaji and the other to acquire Jackson-Davis — for a move with higher implications, such as acquiring Dosunmu. I wrote about the allure of both Dosunmu and another talented Bulls guard on an expiring deal, Coby White, who was later traded to the Charlotte Hornets in yesterday's trade buzz. Toronto found some size and rim protection in Trayce Jackson-Davis, so good on them to some extent, but it's far from a move that could significantly boost their playoff chances — unless TJD makes a stunning leap from out of nowhere.
Now that Minnesota has Dosunmu to boast at their expense, he will likely step into the same type of role that the Wolves lost in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who has emerged as an absolute gem in Atlanta. As I and fellow Raptors Rapture colleague Daniel O'Connor have written in the past, Dosunmu brings a tremendous combination of defense, quality three-point shooting, and secondary playmaking. Every single one of these traits could drastically boost the Raptors' competitive edge, not just for the present but into the high-stakes playoffs.
Outside of, say, Sandro Mamukelashvili, I don't know if the Raptors truly have the perfect guy to come off the bench and provide a massive impact spark. It's great to have a big like Mamu who can come in and get you buckets, and while guys like Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Gradey Dick (to a lesser degree) have shown flashes, Dosunmu would have far outperformed that competition in this role.
But perhaps I got my hopes up a little too much for the Raptors to make such a huge splash. We'll just have to see if this current iteration of the Raptors, plus TJD, can be enough to compete strongly in the postseason.