Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are one of four or five teams in the current upper echelon of the NBA. Adding superstar wing Kawhi Leonard this offseason cemented them as a surefire contender in 2019. Add on the wildly underrated Kyle Lowry, who scores, facilitates, and defends at a near elite level.

The roster is chock full of excellent role players, including Fred VanVleet, O.G. Anunobuy, and Pascal Siakam. However, Masai Ujiri knows of the goliath entity that is the Golden State Warriors. He knows that in Toronto’s current state, their chances of winning the NBA championship are slim to none. However, adding another near-superstar talent could have them contending with Golden State.

Proposed trade package:

Raptors receive: Jimmy Butler

Timberwolves receive: O.G. Anunoby, Serge Ibaka, TOR 2021 first round pick

O.G. Anunoby is the most enticing piece for the Timberwolves in this package, aside from the future first-round pick. Anunoby is a supreme athlete and an athletic defender with a developing offensive skillet. With proper coaching, developing his playmaking ability could turn him into a near All-Star caliber player. Ibaka exists in this deal to make the money match but he still is a rim-protecting presence who can space the floor.

Acquiring Butler makes the Raptors a serious contender to overtake the Celtics as the top team in the Eastern Conference. A starting lineup of Lowry, Butler, Leonard, Siakam, and Valanciunas has everything you could ask for: floor spacing, ample creation, and defensive versatility. Add on one of the best bench units in the NBA and you have, maybe, just maybe, a team that could bother Golden State in a seven-game series.