6 trades the Toronto Raptors should consider in the 2024 NBA Draft

The NBA Draft is usually a great place for a trade to come to fruition. This is the penultimate event of each draft cycle – serving as a nesting ground for 30 teams to evaluate their position in the league in preparation for free agency and the upcoming season.

This is why there are on average about 5-10 trades (and sometimes more) each year during the draft.

Add in the CBA’s new financial restrictions, the fact that this is considered by many to be a “flat” draft with a few teams in precarious positions, and we expect an increased draft-trade cycle.

The Toronto Raptors are a team that could be very active. Armed with picks No. 19 and No. 31 and entering their first full season of re-tooling, what they might do could dictate how they view their long- and short-term aspirations. Are they trying to move up because they fell for a lottery-level talent in this year’s draft pool? Or do they trade down or exit the project altogether to recoup their future assets?

Even if they end up doing nothing, it’s a thoughtful exercise in understanding how this Raptors organization feels about the talent currently on the roster.

Let’s move on to a few of my favorites.

Warning: They shouldn’t trade Jakob Poeltl

The Raptors would have had the 8th pick in this draft if they hadn’t traded for Jakob Poeltl in February 2023. Naturally, the idea came up that they should trade Poeltl to jump. back in the lottery, and although at first glance this may seem like a quick way to catch up with the past, it is not logical.

Make no mistake, the Raptors team that traded for Poeltl is not the same team that currently houses the 28-year-old Center. This team was trying to compete then and this one is…still figuring it out.

That being said, Poeltl has been instrumental in the development of this Raptors core. He was particularly useful as a screener, sealer and pick-and-roll sparring partner for Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, who needed Poeltl’s presence to improve their sensational reads and create shots of their own. And while his lack of a jumper poses a hindrance, his ability to complete passes from the high post is a legitimate pillar of Darko Rajakovic’s offensive system – one that benefits Scottie Barnes’ off-ball abilities as a cutter and finisher.

A stat to convince you if you’re still tired: Poeltl is the only Raptors starter after January 1 to have a positive net rating in every 2-player lineup in which he participated with another starter.

Essentially, he is valuable to what they do and there is no player on the current roster who can replicate his skillset. So unless they are certain that the person they are trading for will 1) be available there and 2) be able to fill that void, they should not trade their current starting center.

The Raptors wouldn’t have the ammunition to go after Donovan Clingan or Alex Sarr, two projected top-5 picks, so they would rest their laurels by taking a shot at Kel’el Ware, Zach Edey, DaRon Holmes or Yves Missi – all of which could potentially be available at 7 p.m.

Exchange options:

Sacramento receives: Bruce Brown + #19

Toronto receives: Harrison Barnes + #13

You will notice that there is a pattern with these “swap” scenarios. The Raptors move up in the draft using Bruce Brown’s expiring salary (Toronto must enter the final year of his contract worth $23 million before trading him) and agree to a longer-term contract for him. TO DO.

This trade gives the Kings some much-needed cap flexibility after next season and they take on Brown, who, for all intents and purposes, should be better in Sacramento where he won’t have to do as much self-creation offensively and can simply be a plug-and-play guy on a playoff team — a role in which he won a championship.

For the Raptors, they move up to 13th overall in the draft and take on Harrison Barnes, who is owed $37 million over the next 2 seasons. Barnes isn’t the player he once was, but the 32-year-old can be a positive presence in a young locker room and can serve as a 3-D wing to see where the Raptors are in their competitive cycle.

This trade helps Toronto find “their guy” in the draft and they land a savvy veteran. Sacramento goes down (which also helps them financially) and gets Brown, a veteran who fits their offensive philosophy.

Chicago receives: Bruce Brown + #19 + #31

Toronto receives: Lonzo Ball + #11

Similar idea here, but under different pretexts. Lonzo has missed the last 2 seasons due to a lingering knee injury and although it has been reported that he expects to play the final year of his contract, his future in the league is a question mark croissant. Additionally, the Bulls just traded Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey and according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the trade was made to replace Ball.

So the Raptors move up to 11th, take on Lonzo, and Chicago gets Bruce Brown, who can help them with their middling ambitions, and two picks for their troubles.

Toronto receives: John Collins + #10

Utah receives: Bruce Brown + #19

The Jazz don’t necessarily need to move on from John Collins’ contract right now, but it’s deservedly one of the toughest contracts in the league to accept. He has 2 years and over $52 million remaining on his contract with a player option in the 2nd season worth over $26 million.

The likely scenario is that the Raptors wouldn’t do this without future assets, like another future 1st round pick. And from the Jazz’s perspective, they’re in no rush to get rid of Collins because they’re not facing a cap crisis and, other than Markkanen, they don’t have anyone to pay imminently.

However, think about it?

Downward Trading Options:

New York receives: Bruce Brown + #19

Toronto receives: Bojan Bogdanovic + #24 + #25

The Raptors and Knicks were reportedly close to a Bruce Brown deal at the trade deadline, but Toronto rejected New York’s offer of a 2024 first-round pick. How about two?

With this deal, the Raptors move back a few spots and get two shots in a flat draft, while the Knicks would get Brown, who has an expiring salary that can help alleviate the future salary cap headache that comes with the presumed contract extensions. contract of Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby.

And they get a top 20 for their problems.

The final year of Bogdanovic’s contract is only partially guaranteed and the Raptors would have until June 28 to decide whether they want to keep him and his $19 million salary on their books next season or whether they want waive it and create more cap space this summer.

Los Angeles (Lakers) Receive: #31

Toronto receives: Max Christie + #55

Do you want Bronny James? Come and get it. As simple as that.

Swinging:

Toronto receives: Collin Sexton + #29 + 32

Utah receives: Bruce Brown + #19 + #31

I probably got too caught up in the commercial machine with this one, but hear me out.

For the Jazz, it’s an exchange. They now get two picks in the top 20 and move up one spot in the 2nd round (which they could trade again if they want). This only works if Utah likes another prospect and doesn’t believe he’ll fall to 29th overall.

For Toronto, it’s a bet on Sexton, who continued to refine his game during his time in Utah, becoming a more skilled playmaker capable of scoring effectively at all 3 levels. His size next to Immanuel Quickley is undoubtedly a defensive issue – but Sexton has been comfortable coming off the bench in the past in Utah and would fill their immediate need for a backup point guard. Additionally, Toronto still finds itself with two draft picks.