We are in the midst of NBA trade season.
A blockbuster move has already taken place, as four-time All-Star Trae Young was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards, and rumors surrounding several key NBA stars continue to swirl.
This time of year always brings uneasiness for NBA fans. Is your favorite team preparing to add talent for a playoff push, or are they about to sell pieces to better position themselves for the future?
For the Toronto Raptors, the choice seems obvious. This is a young, improving team having its most encouraging season in years. They should be buyers. That said, in a previous article, I outlined why Toronto should avoid cashing in all of its assets for an aging star. Patience is often rewarded in the NBA. Still, patience does not mean inactivity.
There is a player on the market who could significantly improve the Raptors without costing a first-round pick.
How the Raptors can pull off a genius trade
For those unfamiliar with Ayo Dosunmu’s game, he is a combo guard for the Chicago Bulls who brings shooting, defense, and secondary playmaking.
He is a career 37.3 percent three-point shooter, averages just over three assists per game, and consistently takes on tough perimeter defensive assignments. At 26 years old, Dosunmu is in the midst of the best season of his career, averaging 14.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 51.5 percent from the field, 45.0 percent from three, and 86.7 percent from the line.
Those are outstanding numbers from a backup guard.
Why Chicago would consider trading Ayo Dosunmu
The lack of a first-round pick in this deal is tied directly to Dosunmu’s contract situation. He is set to hit unrestricted free agency at the end of the season, leaving Chicago with a difficult decision. If the Bulls believe Dosunmu may command more than they are willing to pay, or that he could walk in free agency, moving him now allows them to recoup value rather than lose him for nothing.
The situation becomes even more complicated when considering Coby White, another guard for the Bulls who is also approaching free agency. White is generally viewed as the better player, and Chicago may ultimately be forced to choose between the two. In that scenario, dealing Ayo Dosunmu ahead of the deadline becomes even more likely.
Why Toronto should take the risk
There is risk involved for Toronto. Dosunmu could leave in free agency, turning this into a short-term rental that costs the Raptors two rotation wings and future draft capital. Still, he is the exact type of player Toronto should target on the trade market.
Dosunmu’s shooting, perimeter defense, and ability to function as a secondary creator would immediately elevate Toronto’s bench. When fully healthy, a second unit featuring Jamal Shead, Dosunmu, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Sandro Mamukelashvili would be a playoff-caliber group. Just as important, adding another reliable guard would allow Immanuel Quickley and Jamal Shead to share the floor more often, a pairing that has consistently produced strong results.
This is the type of trade that makes sense for where the Raptors are in their competitive cycle. It improves the team for its first playoff push with this core, preserves future flexibility, and avoids the mistake of overcommitting to a single aging star.