With All Star Weekend now a memory, the next big date on the NBA calendar is this Thursday, February 19th. The NBA trade deadline.
The Raptors have historically been busy at the trade deadline, but most of their trades have been small deals for lesser players that have made little to no impact. Last year, Ujuri seemingly pulled one over on the Spurs by dumping perennial disappointment, Austin Daye, on them for a player who could actually play, Nando deColo. Although Grantland’s Bill Simmons is convinced that the Spurs only made the deal to convince the other teams that they screw up once in a while, so other teams will still make trades with them.
They’ve also traded for Sebastian Telfair, Patrick O’Bryant, Primoz Brezec, Juan Dixon, Shawn Respert and Sharone Wright.
That’s not to say they haven’t made a few deals that have made some waves. In 2001 they traded for Jerome “JYD” Williams and Chris Childs. In 1998 they made a couple of blockbusters that nabbed them Alvin Williams and Chauncy Billups. And in 1996 they were able to acquire Doug Christie a couple of days before the deadline.
Not even Ujiri knows whether the Raptors will make any deals this week – even if he’s not looking for a deal, if he’s offered something that will improve the team, he’s unlikely to turn it down. The Raptors have gone 9-2 in their last 11 after going 3-8 in their previous 11. They’re tied with the fourth best record despite having the 10th youngest roster in the league. And they’re on pace to win the most games in franchise history.
That isn’t to say the team doesn’t need to make some improvements, as most teams do. They’re the second highest rated team in offense, but ranked 20th on defense and in assists and have been a below average rebounding team all season. They’re also middle of the pack in 3 point percentage and in blocks.
The Raptors have the 6th highest scoring bench in the league, with the 4th best differential, and have 9 players playing at least 20 minutes per game, so they can afford to package some talent to increase their talent level if they choose to.
Lou Williams is probably the most likely Raptor to be traded. He’s got an expiring contract and is playing as well as he’s played in years, right now. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see either Patrick Patterson or Amir Johnson moved if the right deal comes along. They need defensive frontcourt help, and getting another big man will mean less time for one or both of these guys. Amir is in the last year of his contract and we’ve probably seen the best from him. Patterson’s ability to stretch the floor from the PF position, and his reasonable contract, should make him valuable if the Raptors decide to keep Amir.
There are a number of players who are on the block on other teams, and we’re going to look at which ones might be a good fit for the Raptors and which ones might not be.
MILES PLUMLEE (Phoenix, 26 years old, 13.1 PER, $1.6 million per season)
One of the biggest needs the Raptors have is a frontcourt rim protector, and while Plumlee is no Anthony Davis, he’s a good defensive big man who rebounds well and can play both the 4 and 5. He’s also just 26 years old, athletic and his stock is probably lower than it should be right now. On the downside, he doesn’t shoot from outside, which means playing him alongside Valanciunas won’t help the team’s spacing all that much.
Plus, the Raptors might also be able to acquire Tyler Ennis, currently languishing on the Suns bench, who they tried to draft last June.
Cost
Phoenix isn’t going to give Plumlee away, and his small salary would probably mean also having to take on someone like Gerald Green, who’s fallen off the depth charts for the Suns in the last month and a half and whose contract expires this summer. The Raptors would have to give up someone like Terrence Ross and another piece to get the deal done.
Recommendation
If the Raptors can acquire both Plumlee and Ennis, as well as Green or another player to make salaries work, and just give up Ross and maybe a second round pick, then it’s definitely worth it. It’s also a deal I can see Ujiri making. However, it’s unlikely the Suns wouldn’t ask for more than just Ross in return.
TAJ GIBSON (Chicago, 29 years old, 15.9 PER, $8 million per season)
Gibson’s name has been thrown around as not just being available, but also in connection with the Raptors. In a lot of ways, he’d be a good fit. He’s a veteran presence who is a very good defensive player and he’s got an underrated post game. RR’s own William Lou looked at how Gibson might not be as good a fit as he appears a couple of weeks ago, and I would tend to agree with him on this.
Cost
Chicago is definitely open to trading Gibson, but would want an expiring contract in return, so they can give the money to Jimmy Butler this summer. I’m guessing they’d also either want a first rounder, a backup center and/or backcourt help in return. I can see them being interested in Lou Williams and his instant offense, as well as Bebe Nogueira to match salaries.
Recommendation
Gibson may not be the best piece to go after, and while it would be smart to sell high on Lou Williams, the Raptors would be losing a lot of offense for Gibson. Still, grabbing Gibson might be similar to when the Raptors grabbed Charles Oakley and Antonio Davis, and be a big addition to the Raptors’ roster. Williams’ contract expires this season, so it might be wise to get what they can for him now, and Gibson would be a very good return.
NIK STAUSKAS (Sacramento, 21 years old, 5.7 PER, $2.7 million per season)
In what should have been a tipoff to just how disastrous Sacramento King’s new owner, Vivek Ranadivé, was going to be for the franchise, he lead the charge to select shooting guard Nik Stauskas, despite having drafted shooting guard Ben McLemore in the previous draft, over Elfrid Payton, a much better fit and the defensive point guard they desperately needed (plus, a player with a higher ceiling). His excuse was that the Kings, who had won just 28 games the previous season, needed 3 point shooting.
When your team wins just 28 games, three point shooting is probably the least of your worries.
In what has to be one of the most awkward post-draft moments, Ranadivé has the war room welcome Stauskas in a cringe-inducing way.
Despite him being completely wrong for the Kings, I’m a big fan of Stauskas (whether or not he’s Canadian), but he was a bad fit on the Kings from the start and his three point shooting and play making ability would be perfect for the Raptors.
Cost
I haven’t heard what the Kings are looking for in return for Stauskas, but it’s likely a starting PG and/or starting PF who can play defense and spread the floor. Coincidentally, the Kings gave up two players to the Raptors who fit that description in exchange for Rudy Gay last season. Vasquez probably isn’t much of an upgrade over what the Kings have now, but Patterson might be something the Kings would value in addition to another piece.
If Ujiri gets creative, he could bring in Phoenix and get Plumlee, Ennis and Stuaskas, with Goran Dragic going to Sacramento. Obviously the details would need to be worked out, but it could be something that would work for all three teams.
Recommendation
Unless Stauskas’ value is less than anticipated, or Ujiri throws in an Amir Johnson or someone else unexpected, it’s hard to see the Raptors having the right pieces to pry Stauskas away without including another team in the process. If they can, a player like Stauskas could end up being a major asset that would be worth trying to deal for.
KENNETH FARIED (Denver, 25 years old, 17.3 PER, $2.3 million per season)
This has been another player the Raptors are rumoured to be interested, probably because Denver is willing to trade just about anyone on the roster, at this point, and because Ujiri drafted him three and a half years ago when he was the GM of the Nuggets.
Faried is an exciting, athletic four who hustles, runs the floor and is a good rebounder. But he’s also undersized, can’t shoot beyond five feet, isn’t a very good defender, especially in the post, and his massive extension kicks in next season.
Cost
Denver knows it’s done for the season and is in rebuild mode (a season or two too late), so probably will only take back expiring contracts, young players or draft picks. The Raptors could probably pry Faried away if they also agree to take JaVale McGee and his huge contract and send back Terrence Ross in return, but would have to also send expiring contracts like Landry Fields, Chuck Hayes and Tyler Hansbrough to match salaries. That’s a lot, plus it keeps the Raptors right at the luxury tax threshold.
Recommendation
It might seem like a fair deal for the Raptors, who bolster their frontline and get a rim protector in McGee, if they agree to take him, but Faried is simply not an upgrade over Amir and McGee has never been liked by coaches for a reason.
LANCE STEPHENSON (Charlotte, 24 years old, 8.9 PER, $9 million per season)
Stephenson is young and definitely talented, but he’s a ball dominator who would work horribly alongside Lowry and DeRozan, and his 3 point shooting makes DeRozan look good by comparison. And then there are the problems above the shoulders.
Cost
Too much.
Recommendation
No.
JOE JOHNSON (Brooklyn, 76 years old, 14.5 PER, $23 billion per season)
Brooklyn is ready to trade just about anyone on the roster and would LOVE to be able to trade away Johnson and his gargantuan salary. I’m not sure why I’ve read Raptor fans bring up his names because he’s a VERY old 33 years old and is a shadow of the player he used to be. He can’t really defend, anymore, is just an average shooter and is owed more than $24 million next season. I mean, would anyone really be surprised if he he had a precipitous dropoff next season?
Cost
I’m sure the Nets would give up Johnson for cap relief or just another player who can breath, but the Raptors would have to include Vasquez, Landry Fields, Chuck Hayes and Tyler Hanbrough just to match salaries. And that not only kills any cap room the Raptors might have this summer, but would mean re-signing Amir would put them into the luxury tax. And it also wouldn’t make them a better team.
Recommendation
Really?
ANDREW WIGGINS (Minnesota, 19 years old, 12.8 PER, $5.5 million per season)
Just kidding.
SUMMARY
Trading Lou Williams for Taj Gibson is probably the deal that would be easiest to make work, makes the most sense for both teams and would help the Raptors immediately. However, I’d love to see Stauskas, Plumlee and Ennis in Raptor uniforms even if it’s a more complicated scenario and is aimed more for the future.
