Should Raptors Consider Blockbuster Move amid Latest NBA Trade Rumors?
As the 2022-23 NBA season prepares to tip off, the Eastern Conference looks as loaded as ever.
The Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics are generally regarded as the top three clubs in the conference, but the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls might all have something to say about that.
Oh yeah, and let's not forget about the Toronto Raptors, even though it seems like we always do. They entered last season with few expectations and finished it with 48 wins. As ESPN's Brian Windhorst noted, they're positioned to make even more noise this time around—both on the court and in the trade market.
"The Raptors will be a spoiler in the Eastern Conference," Windhorst said on NBA Today (h/t ClutchPoints). "Nobody talks about the Raptors, and the Raptors are primed to make a midseason trade."
Toronto has made some bold moves in the past—the 2018 Kawhi Leonard blockbuster says hi—so could it have another in store? Let's explore the possibility.
Why It's an Option
The Raptors have a strong collection of good-to-really-good players atop their roster, but you could argue there aren't any great ones. Not yet, anyway.
Pascal Siakam has been an All-NBA selection twice before, so he comes closest to wearing that label. Reigning Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes has flashed potential, so he perhaps has the strongest argument for rising to those ranks. And if you believe OG Anunoby is the second coming of Leonard, then you're talking about a two-way superstar wing in the making.
There are possibilities, but there are a few problems, too.
For starters, stardom isn't guaranteed for any of them. Siakam has never averaged 23 points, nine rebounds or six assists, so if he's closer to top-25 than top-10 in the league, he's not going to lead a title run on his own. Barnes has a ton of tools, but he needs a few standout skills on offense to make that kind of leap. Anunoby's numbers haven't neared star territory, and he needs to prove he can stay healthy before he worries about anything else.
Finally, there's enough overlap within this trio of forwards to wonder whether all three will reside north of the border for the long haul. Theoretically, they can fill the frontcourt spots together, but Toronto had trouble on the interior last season, and spending more time without a traditional center in the mix probably isn't the best way to solve that problem.
Why Continuity Might Be Better Option
The Raptors might functionally be a work-in-progress bunch, but that's fine.
All key members of this core are either in their prime or still ascending toward it, and this team still neared 50 wins last season, then pushed the better-on-paper Philadelphia 76ers to six games in the opening round.
The Raptors could stand pat and be special, if they ace their developmental projects.
This really hinges on one's opinion of Barnes and, to a lesser extent, Anunoby. If you see significant star potential in one or both, then you might find the notion of a major deal laughable. It's certainly possible that the only thing standing between Toronto and full-fledged title contention is more seasoning for its up-and-comers.
So, Is There a Blockbuster Trade Worth Making?
The simplest answer here is sort of a nonanswer: It depends.
It depends on how quickly the young Raptors climb the ladder. It depends on what this trade market offers. It depends on how good this conference really is and whether Toronto could actually trade its way to the top.
For a more definitive take, though, Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri should keep his eyes and ears open for opportunities but prepare to stand pat unless a chance to significantly upgrade the squad surfaces.
Given the age and contract situations of this core, there is no reason to try fast-tracking this process. This nucleus could grow into a contender on its own, and if that takes a year or two to happen, so be it. The key performers are all young enough to wait, and the East might not be quite as loaded by then.
While we'd hesitate to rule out a major move, since the loaded 2023 draft class could motivate sellers to populate this trade market with difference-makers, it seems more likely than not that patience proves the best path forward for Toronto.