How Toronto Raptors Are Impacted By This Trade
Getting the Toronto Raptors’ attention with a trade package for Pascal Siakam won’t be easy. He is only 27-years old, so he can still be a part of their present and future. But the Memphis Grizzlies would certainly get the Raptors’ attention with a trade package like this.
If Toronto is going to entertain the idea of trading Siakam, it likely means they are entering a bit of a retooling and rebuilding phase. Adding draft capital is usually the name of the game in that scenario, and the Raptors accomplish that with this deal.
Both 2022 first-round picks in this deal, via the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers, should convey unless some unforeseen circumstances occur. It would be shocking to see both the Jazz and Lakers end up in the lottery, much less landing inside the top-6 or top-10.
The other thing a team wants when trading away an established star is a high-upside young player and the Raptors also accomplish that in the form of Jaren Jackson Jr. Jackson has battled some injuries but when he is on the court, he has flashed immense potential.
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At times in his career, Jackson has looked like a square peg trying to be fit into a circle hole at power forward alongside centers. It would be nice to see what he can do as the center on a team with a versatile power forward, such as rookie Scottie Barnes, alongside him. Turning 22 on September 15th, he is a player worth taking a shot on as the centerpiece in a deal for Siakam.
Kyle Anderson is a steady veteran that would provide a nice mentor for Barnes with the similarities in their games. Barnes is more athletic, but Anderson can show him the ropes on being a versatile point-forward and is the living embodiment of what hard work can do for a jump shot improving.
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De’Anthony Melton has an expensive contract, but only 23-years old himself gives Toronto another young player to add into their backcourt rotation. He will provide some insurance behind Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. along with Malachi Flynn.
