The Toronto Raptors are in a rather weird position today in the NBA. On one hand, the team found incredible success last season behind the heroics of Scottie Barnes, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam. On the other hand… they don't quite have the talent level to compete with the big dogs of the Eastern Conference.
So what's the easy solution to the average fan looking to solve their favorite team's problems? The Trade Machine, of course! Let's look at some unrealistic but highly intriguing trades for the Toronto Raptors in the 2022 NBA offseason. Full disclaimer: some of these are bound to be ridiculous. But hey, these are supposed to be unrealistic!
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Unrealistic trades Raptors must try to make in 2022 NBA offseason
3. Bam Adebayo
As the 2021-22 season played out, the goals of the Raptors' front office became increasingly clear. Build the most switchable lineup in NBA history. Drafting Scottie Barnes to play alongside Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and the developing Precious Achiuwa worked wonders for them in the season.
The Raptors started off the 2022 offseason with the same idea in mind, drafting Arizona's Christian Koloko in the second round. Still, if Masai Ujiri wants to fulfill his dreams of a “long” lineup, there's one player that he should target: Bam Adebayo.
Adebayo is arguably the most switchable center in the NBA today. The Heat center is able to both protect the rim AND hang with guards and wings on the perimeter. Nick Nurse is going to have a field day creating crazy lineups with Adebayo. However, there's a reason why Bam Adebayo is on the list of unrealistic trade for the Raptors in the 2022 offseason.
The biggest reason is that the Raptors don't have the assets to trade for Adebayo without gutting their core in return. Toronto will have to give up two of Anunoby, Siakam, and VanVleet for the salaries to match. Anunoby + contract filler (likely Malachi Flynn and Khem Birch) also doesn't seem like a strong enough package to pry Adebayo away from a Heat team that adores the star center.
2. Robert Williams
Despite the Celtics' loss in the Finals to the Warriors, one of the silver linings for them was the emergence of Robert Williams III. The center broke out as one of the most ferocious shot-blockers in the league, shutting down many Eastern Conference opponents (and even GSW for some stretches, despite his injury!)
The Raptors would absolutely love to get Robert Williams III via trade in the 2022 offseason. However, Williams' breakout Finals performance means that his value is at an all-time high. The front office will have to massively overpay the Celtics center with their assets to even get him. Plus, the fact that Boston and Toronto are division rivals could discourage a potential deal between the two teams.
Still, imagine a Raptors defense with Siakam, Barnes, and Williams as the front-court. Their combined length could overshadow the entire East Coast, and all three men are mobile enough to not be exploited by most guards.
1. DeMar DeRozan
There's no world where the Chicago Bulls trade DeMar DeRozan to the Raptors just a year after signing him to a huge deal. Like with Adebayo, the Raps also can't trade for him without gutting their roster. Still, though, it's fun to imagine how Deebo fits in with this current iteration of the team that took him in the draft back in 2009.
One of the biggest issues of the Raptors last season is their putrid half-court offense at times. Siakam has grown into a capable first option, but there are still certain matchups that don't allow him to cook as efficiently as he'd want to. Those same matchups also plague VanVleet, which is a problem for this squad. The Raptors' first-round matchup against the Sixers exposed this: VanVleet was a net-negative on offense due to the Sixers' length.
DeRozan helps address those issues. Last season, the Bulls star ranked in the 93rd percentile in isolation offense. He can help take the load off of Siakam and VanVleet when the going gets tough for them. The Raptors also have a bevy of players to help hide Deebo on defense come playoff time.
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