The Toronto Raptors made a big move this offseason firing head coach Dwane Casey, but that sounds like it could be just the first of many moves that could happen to shake up the team dynamics.
According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Raptors are looking to trade their way into the top ten of the 2018 NBA Draft in order to draft Kentucky's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Draft scuttle: Hearing Toronto is exploring all of its trade options in hopes of assembling a deal to acquire a draft pick high enough to select Kentucky's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 18, 2018
Stein adds that there is no player on the roster considered untouchable, so we could see the same roster next year or a very different Raptors team.
According to one league source, no one on Toronto's roster is off limits as the Raptors pursue a top-10 pick https://t.co/AZzCv8fPXD
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 18, 2018
Gilgeous-Alexander is from Ontario and that could be part of the draw to get him back in Canada, but the Raptors must have been really impressed with what they saw during the NBA draft combine. Gilgeous-Alexander hasn't had any private workouts with teams, but most experts believe he won't fall any farther than the 11th pick which is owned by the Charlotte Hornets.
The Raptors aren't the only team that is looking to trade up and down in the draft and according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, it could be a draft-day filled with trades.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of action and trades. I think there’s going to be some trades up in the lottery. I think there’s going to be a lot of moving around. I think teams value guys at so different; there’s not a great consensus, really, after No. 1, there’s not a consensus. So I think there’ll be some teams trying to get up higher and some teams trying to get out.”
The Raptors might have a hard time pulling off a trade because they don't currently own any draft picks, but with no one on the roster safe, they have plenty of value on the team to get one done.