After being bounced by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the NBA playoffs, the Toronto Raptors should consider trades this offseason to bolster their roster. After losing Kawhi Leonard in 2019, the Raptors have been close to playoff contention but right outside that bubble. The roster right now, however, is quite talented with plenty of youth. A little bit of tinkering may have the Raptors set up to truly contend.
Toronto Raptors: Two Trades to Consider
Upgrading the Backcourt
Toronto Raptors receive Talen Horton-Tucker.
Los Angeles Lakers receive Chris Boucher (via sign-and-trade).
Toronto lays claim to a strong backcourt with the likes of Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. Malachi Flynn may grow into a reliable backup, but for now, the Raptors need more help off the bench. Horton-Tucker is often mentioned in Lakers trade rumors, and the Raptors should look into this.
This season Horton-Tucker averaged roughly 10 points, three rebounds, and three assists per game. Like many other Raptors players, Horton-Tucker is young at 21-years-old. He’s definitely more of a two-guard than a point guard, but will easily be one of the first names off the bench in Toronto. He’s talented on both ends of the court, and can also see time at the small forward spot. All in all, Horton-Tucker is long and a special athlete, which is right around Toronto’s alley.
It’s difficult to gauge what the Lakers’ offseason will look like. With that being said, it’s clear they need frontcourt help. Anthony Davis is struggling with injury issues and looking like a shell of his former self. Dwight Howard can be replaced as well. Boucher can start alongside Davis, or come off the bench and contribute. He scores inside, but also stretches the floor. Finally, Boucher can guard the rim and block shots. He may also be redundant in Toronto due to the presence of Precious Achiuwa.
Another Straight Swap
Toronto Raptors receive Shake Milton.
Philadelphia 76ers receive Thaddeus Young (via sign-and-trade).
Teams don’t always want to deal with division rivals, but this is a trade that helps both teams.
Milton is a solid depth option who can play both guard positions. This season he put up solid numbers at roughly eight points, three rebounds, and three assists per game. His three-point shooting was off, just hitting 32% of them, but typically Milton is a lot better of a shooter than that. He offers Toronto more than just Flynn coming off the bench as well. Should VanVleet ever miss time, Milton can be inserted as a starter as well.
Young arrived in Toronto at the trade deadline this season to bring frontcourt depth. He was sparingly used by Toronto, mostly due to the Raptors having a plethora of frontcourt players. The situation in Philadelphia, however, is different. DeAndre Jordan and Paul Millsap are way beyond their prime, which leaves the 76ers with Georges Niang, Paul Reed, and Charles Bassey as options off the bench. Young brings in a veteran presence, but also a player who can still contribute.
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