Raptors News: Vince in Hall of Fame, failing preseason, trade ideas

Trade for Lonzo Ball?

The Toronto Raptors will continue to explore trade possibilities to upgrade the roster, be that using Bruce Brown's expiring contract or another type of construction. One trade idea that we analyzed this week was a deal to swap Brown for Lonzo Ball, who is expected to play his first basketball game in nearly three years on Wednesday.

Ball looks like an ideal fit next to Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes...if he is healthy, and if he can play at the same level he played at before. Those are both massive question marks, and the risk is simply too high to give up their best salary-matching trade chip and any amount of draft capital to take a swing at. The Raptors would be better off letting him shake off the rust and prove the health of his knee with the Bulls before entertaining a trade.

What about trading for Moses Moody?

Another player we looked into on the trade market is Moses Moody. The fourth-year wing continues to be criminally under-utilized by the Golden State Warriors, who can't seem to decide whether they love Moody or think he's the scum of the earth. Yet with new additions like De'Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield jostling with Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga, there doesn't appear to be a lot of room in the rotation for Moody.

That makes him an excellent buy-low candidate for the Raptors, who could use a 3-and-D player with his skill and upside. He would be a seamless fit in the Raptors' rotation and, if they strike quickly enough, would probably accept a contract extension that will look like an absolute bargain down the line.

What's Next?

The Toronto Raptors host the Boston Celtics in a rematch tonight back in Toronto, and then close out the preseason on Friday in Brooklyn, NY. Word on whether Quickley will be back in the lineup has yet to come, but the expectation was that he would return before the end of the preseason.

Then the NBA season tips off next Tuesday night, and the Raptors will begin their season on Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers at ScotiaBank Arena. They will likely do so without Bruce Brown and RJ Barrett, throwing their rotation into chaos right from the jump.