The Toronto Raptors surprised a lot of people with how well they performed during the 2021-22 NBA season. They finished fifth in the Eastern Conference with a record 48-34, which is even more impressive when you take into account that many thought this would be a rebuilding season north of the border. Could they look to go all-out to compete by making a trade for Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar Anthony Davis?
The Raptors lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in six games in their first-round playoff series as they could not compete with the size of Joel Embiid. Finding a center is something Toronto tried to do, unsuccessfully, during the season and will attempt to do in the coming weeks in the offseason.
Masai Ujiri has done a great job building this roster up essentially on the fly with the potential to become contenders much quicker than anyone could have predicted. If they look to make a splash this offseason, it should come in the frontcourt.
Could Anthony Davis of the Lakers be a target? He would certainly help fill the void in the frontcourt. While he prefers playing power forward, Davis presents a matchup nightmare playing the center spot given his athleticism and skillset on both ends of the court.
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There have been a ton of rumors about what the Lakers could do this offseason. Many are expecting them to try their hardest to move Russell Westbrook, but the return package for him likely won’t be too strong. While a package for Davis now won’t match what the Lakers sent to the New Orleans Pelicans for him, it will still bring back a lot of assets for the team.
In this hypothetical trade between the Raptors and Lakers, Toronto lands the All-Star, Davis to man the middle of their lineup. The price isn’t cheap, as the Raptors send Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, a 2024 first-round pick and a 2026 first-round pick to Los Angeles.
The Raptors have an excellent core with Davis joining Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes. They are on the cusp of contending in the Eastern Conference with that group, especially if Davis can remain healthy.
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The Lakers, meanwhile, restock their rotation with players that are all excellent fits in one way or another around LeBron James. The first-round picks provide them with more ammunition to swing another trade to further upgrade a roster that is in dire need of a talent infusion.
It is hard to imagine Los Angeles parting with Davis this offseason, as they sound intent on running things back and that is ultimately where he wanted to be. But, this trade package from the Raptors is exactly what they would be looking for in return. Their rotation gets younger with upside players and they add draft capital, which is severely lacking.
