Ahead of yesterday’s NBA Draft the Milwaukee Bucks traded the No.46 pick (Norman Powell) and a 2017 first round pick to the Toronto Raptors for point guard Greivis Vasquez.
Vasquez will add depth to a young Milwaukee roster looking to improve upon its first round exit from the 2015 playoffs. During that series against the Chicago Bulls they exhibited a distinct lack of scoring ability, something Vasquez, who brings career numbers of .422 from the field and .356 from three, should be able to address with immediate effect.
Given the fact that he’s a seven-year NBA veteran who’s played for five different teams, including Memphis, New Orleans and Sacramento, Vasquez should also provide the kind of leadership and depth that all developing teams need, whilst bearing some of the burden placed upon Michael Carter-Williams.
Toronto, on the other hand, will be delighted at having transformed a role player who only has one year remaining on his current contract into two picks, one of which is, of course, a first rounder. The Raptors will have to find a replacement, but GM Masai Ujiri has saved himself $6 million and broadened his options moving forward.
Whether he’ll keep that future first round pick or look to trade it remains to be seen, but, either way, given the overhaul everyone seems to be awaiting in Toronto, he’s given himself some leverage, especially if he’s able to find a suitable replacement for Vasquez who costs a little bit less.
The Raptors would use their own pick in the NBA Draft, 20th overall, to take point guard Delon Wright.
In essence, although only a minor one, this trade should benefit both teams.
The Bucks, who averaged just 36.3% from deep last year, have acquired a solid shooter, even if they did give up a lot to get him, while Toronto did something pretty rare by today’s standards, swapping an aging role player for two picks.
