6 Trades The Toronto Raptors Should Consider At The 2024 NBA Draft

The NBA draft is typically an ideal place for a trade to come to fruition. It is the penultimate event of every draft cycle — serving as a nesting ground for 30 teams to evaluate their standing in the league in preparation for free agency and the upcoming season.

That is why without fail there are, on average, about 5-10 trades (and sometimes more) every year at the draft.

Add in the new CBA financial restrictions, the fact that this is considered by many a ‘flat’ draft, a few teams being in precarious positions, and we are due for a heightened draft-day-trade cycle.

The Toronto Raptors are one team that could be quite active. Armed with picks #19 and #31 and entering their first full season of a re-tool, what they might do could dictate how they view their long and short-term aspirations. Do they try and move up because they fell in love with a lottery-level talent in this year’s draft pool? Or do they trade down or out of the draft entirely to recoup future assets?

Even if they don’t end up doing anything, it’s a thoughtful exercise in understanding what this Raptors organization thinks of the talent currently on the roster.

Let’s get into a few of my favorites.

Disclaimer: They Shouldn’t Trade Jakob Poeltl

The Raptors would have had the 8th pick in this draft had it not been for them trading for Jakob Poeltl in February of 2023. Naturally, the idea has come up that they should trade Poeltl to jump back into the lottery, and while on the surface that might seem like a quick way to make up for the past — it falls short of being logical.

Don’t get me wrong, the Raptors team that traded for Poeltl isn’t the same one that houses the 28-year-old Center now. That team was trying to compete then and this one is… still figuring it out.

That being said, Poeltl has become instrumental in the development of this Raptors core. He’s been particularly useful as a screener, sealer, and pick-and-roller sparring partner for Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, who have needed Poeltl’s presence to improve their feel-making reads and creating their own shots. And while his lack of a jumper is a hurdle, his ability to make passes out of the high post is a legitimate pillar in Darko Rajakovic’s offensive system — one that benefits Scottie Barnes’s off-ball capabilities as a cutter and finisher.

A stat to convince you if you’re still weary: Poeltl is the only Raptors starter after January 1st to have a positive net rating in every 2-man lineup he’s been in with any other starter.

Essentially, he’s valuable to what they do and there isn’t a player on the current roster who can replicate his skill-set. So, unless they are certain that whoever they trade up for 1) will be available there and 2) can fill that void, they shouldn’t trade their current starting center.

The Raptors wouldn’t have the ammo to go after Donovan Clingan or Alex Sarr, two projected top 5 picks, so they’d be resting their laurels on taking shots at Kel’el Ware, Zach Edey, DaRon Holmes, or Yves Missi — all of which could potentially be available at 19.

Trade Up Options:

Sacramento Receives: Bruce Brown + #19

Toronto Receives: Harrison Barnes + #13

You’ll notice there is a trend with these ‘trade-up’ scenarios. The Raptors move up in the draft using Bruce Brown’s expiring salary (Toronto must opt-in to the final year of his contract worth $23M before trading him) and take on a longer-term contract to do so.

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

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

This trade helps Toronto get ‘their guy’ in the draft and they take a swing at a savvy vet. Sacramento moves down (which helps them financially too) and gets Brown, a vet who fits their offensive philosophy.

Chicago Receives: Bruce Brown + #19 + #31

Toronto Receives: Lonzo Ball + #11

Similar idea here, but under different pretenses. Lonzo has missed the last 2 seasons recovering from a prolonged knee injury and while there have been reports that he expects to play in the final year of his contract — his future in the league is a growing question mark. Besides, 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 trouble.

Toronto Receives: John Collins + #10

Utah Receives: Bruce Brown + #19

The Jazz don’t necessarily need to dump John Collins’s contract right now, but it rightfully is one of the hardest contracts to take on in the league. He has 2 years and over $52M left on his deal with a player-option in the 2nd season worth over $26M.

The likely scenario is that the Raptors wouldn’t do this without future assets attached like another future 1st round pick. And from the Jazz perspective, they are in no rush to dump Collins because they aren’t in any sort of cap crunch, and other than Markkanen, they don’t have anyone they need to imminently pay.

Still — give it a thought?

Trade Down Options:

New York Receives: Bruce Brown + #19

Toronto Receives: Bojan Bogdanovic + #24 + #25

The Raptors and Knicks were reportedly close to a deal on Bruce Brown at the trade deadline, but Toronto rejected New York’s offer of a 2024 1st-round pick. How about two?

With this deal, the Raptors move down a few spots and get two swings at the can in a flat draft, meanwhile, the Knicks would get Brown, who has an expiring salary that can help ease the future salary cap conundrum that comes with the presumed contract extensions of Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby.

And they get a top-20 pick for their troubles.

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

Los Angeles (Lakers) Receive: #31

Toronto Receives: Max Christie + #55

You want Bronny James? Come get him. Simple as that.

Take A Swing:

Toronto Receives: Collin Sexton + #29 + 32

Utah Receives: Bruce Brown + #19 + #31

I probably got too carried away on the trade machine with this one, but hear me out.

For the Jazz, this is a trade-up move. They now get two picks in the top 20 and move up a slot in the 2nd round (which they could trade again if they choose to). This only works if Utah loves another prospect and doesn’t believe they will fall to #29.

For Toronto, it’s a bet on Sexton, who has continued to refine his game while in Utah, becoming a more adept playmaker who can score efficiently at all 3 levels. His size next to Immanuel Quickley is no doubt an issue defensively — but Sexton has been comfortable coming off the bench in the past in Utah and would address their immediate need for a backup point guard. Plus, Toronto still ends up with two picks in the draft.