6 trades the Toronto Raptors ought to think about within the 2024 NBA Draft

The NBA Draft is often a great place for a commerce to come back to fruition. It is the penultimate occasion of every draft cycle — serving as a spot for 30 groups to guage the place they stand within the league in preparation totally free company and the upcoming season.

Because of this there are, on common, about 5-10 trades (generally extra) annually within the draft.

Add to the CBA’s new monetary constraints, the truth that many view this as a “flat” draft, with a number of groups in dangerous positions, and we’re due for an elevated every day buying and selling cycle.

The Toronto Raptors are a group that may be very lively. Armed with picks at No. 19 and No. 31 and getting into their first full season of re-tool, what they do may dictate how they view their long- and short-term aspirations. Are they attempting to maneuver up as a result of they fell in love with a lottery-level expertise on this yr’s draft pool? Or do they commerce down or come out of the draft totally to redeem future belongings?

Even when they do not find yourself doing something, it is a considerate train in understanding what the Raptors group thinks concerning the expertise at present on the roster.

Let’s get into a number of of our favorites.

Disclaimer: They need to not commerce Jakob Poeltl

The Raptors would have had the eighth choose on this draft had they not traded for Jakob Poeltl in February of 2023. Naturally, the thought arose that they need to commerce Poeltl to make a soar. behind Within the lottery, though on the floor this may occasionally look like a fast method to make up for the previous, it falls wanting being logical.

Do not get me unsuitable, the Raptors that traded for Poeltl usually are not the identical group that has the 28-year-old heart now. This group was attempting to compete on the time and this group…remains to be figuring it out.

Nevertheless, Poeltl has turn into instrumental in creating the Raptors’ core. He was particularly helpful as a sparring accomplice to dam, block and catch for Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, who wanted Poeltl’s presence to enhance their reads and create their pictures. And whereas his lack of leaping means is an impediment, his means to make passes from the excessive publish is a legit pillar of Darko Rajakovic’s offensive system – which advantages Scotty Barnes’ off-the-ball talents as a cutter and finisher.

A stat to persuade you if you happen to’re nonetheless feeling weary: Poeltl is the one participant who began for the Raptors after January 1 to have a constructive internet score in each two-man lineup he is ever been in with another starter.

Mainly, he’s beneficial at what they do and there’s no participant on the present roster who can replicate his talent set. So, until they’re positive that the individual they’re buying and selling for 1) will probably be obtainable there and a pair of) can fill that void, they need to not commerce their present beginning heart.

The Raptors will not have the ammunition to go after Donovan Clingan or Alex Sarr, two projected top-5 picks, so that they’ll relaxation their laurels on taking pictures at Kiel Weir, Zach Eddy, Daron Holmes, or Yves Messi — all of whom might be obtainable on 19 .

Buying and selling choices:

Sacramento Receives: Bruce Brown + #19

Toronto receives: Harrison Barnes + #13

You’ll discover a pattern in these “trade-off” situations. The Raptors transfer up within the draft utilizing Bruce Brown’s expiring wage (Toronto should join the ultimate yr of his $23 million contract earlier than buying and selling him) and purchase a long-term contract to take action.

This commerce offers the Kings with some much-needed flexibility after subsequent season and takes a swing at Brown, who for all intents and functions must be higher in Sacramento as he will not should do as a lot self-creation offensively and might simply be a man who performs on a playoff group – That is the position by which he received the championship.

For the Raptors, they transfer as much as thirteenth within the draft and face Harrison Barnes, who’s due $37 million over the following two seasons. Barnes shouldn’t be the participant he as soon as was, however the 32-year-old generally is a constructive presence in a younger locker room and can be utilized as a 3-and-D wing because the Raptors navigate their aggressive rotation.

This commerce helps Toronto get “their man” within the draft and switch to a wise vet. Sacramento strikes down (which helps them financially as effectively) and will get Brown, a vet who suits their offensive philosophy.

Chicago receives: Bruce Brown + #19 + #31

Toronto Receives: Lonzo Ball + #11

Related concept right here, however beneath totally different pretexts. Lonzo has missed the final two seasons recovering from a lingering knee damage, and whereas there have been experiences that he expects to play within the last yr of his contract, his future within the league is more and more a query mark. Moreover, the Bulls simply traded Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey and based on ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the deal was made to interchange Ball.

So, the Raptors transfer as much as eleventh, tackle Lonzo, and Chicago will get Bruce Brown, who might help them obtain their mid-major ambitions, and two picks for his or her downside.

Toronto Receives: John Collins + #10

Utah Receives: Bruce Brown + #19

The Jazz do not essentially have to do away with John Collins’ contract proper now, nevertheless it’s actually one of many hardest contracts to get within the league. He has two years and greater than $52 million remaining on his cope with a second-season participant choice value greater than $26 million.

A possible state of affairs is that the Raptors will not accomplish that with out attaching future belongings like one other future first-round choose. And from the Jazz’s perspective, they’re in no rush to half with Collins as a result of they don’t seem to be in any type of cap crunch, and aside from Markkanen, they do not have anybody they should pay instantly.

Nevertheless – give it some thought?

Buying and selling Choices Down:

New York Receives: Bruce Brown + #19

Toronto receives: Bojan Bogdanovic + #24 + #25

The Raptors and Knicks have been reportedly near reaching an settlement on Bruce Brown on the commerce deadline, however Toronto rejected New York’s provide of a 2024 first-round choose. How about two?

With this deal, the Raptors transfer down a number of spots and get two swings on the field in a steady draft, and on the identical time, the Knicks will get Brown, who has an expiring wage that would assist alleviate the longer term wage cap dilemma that comes with a supposed contract extension. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby.

They obtained prime 20 picks for his or her points.

Bogdanovic’s last yr of his contract is simply partially assured and the Raptors can have till June 28 to resolve whether or not they need to hold him and his $19 million wage on their books subsequent season or waive him and create extra cap area this summer season.

Los Angeles (Lakers) will get: No. 31

Toronto Receives: Max Christie + #55

You need Bronny James? come and get it. Simple like that.

Take a swing:

Toronto receives: Collin Sexton + #29 + 32

Utah receives: Bruce Brown + #19 + #31

I am most likely getting too carried away within the buying and selling machine with this one, however hear me out.

For the Jazz, this can be a trade-off transfer. They now get two top-20 picks and transfer up for the slot within the second spherical (which they might commerce again in the event that they so select). This solely works if Utah likes one other prospect and does not suppose they will fall to twenty ninth.

For Toronto, it is a wager on Sexton, who continued to enhance his recreation whereas in Utah, turning into a extra expert playmaker who can rating effectively in any respect three ranges. His dimension subsequent to Immanuel Quickley actually poses an issue defensively — however Sexton has been comfy coming off the bench previously for Utah State and would fill their fast want for a backup level guard. Moreover, Toronto nonetheless has two picks within the draft.