Toronto Raptors
The more and more you think about potential trade destinations for Damian Lillard should he request a trade, it is hard not to look at and consider the Toronto Raptors, which is why they are absolutely a dark-horse team to keep an eye on this offseason.
After winning their first championship in 2019, the Raptors continued their winning ways last season, posting a 53-19 record, ultimately losing in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but they did not see the same fortune this year. Due to various injuries and other factors, the Raptors finished the 2020-21 season 27-45 and missed the playoffs for the first-time since 2013.
Now, with Kyle Lowry set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and this franchise needing a star player to pair with Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet, the Raptors find themselves as a team with a lot to offer this offseason. Not only is a potential Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade on the table, but they also have OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher and the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft as trade assets.
Moving on from Lowry and losing him in the offseason will be hard for the Raptors to do, especially after he has spent the last 9 seasons being their leader, but adding Damian Lillard would be a pretty good consolation prize for Toronto!
The Raptors have everything in place to continue being title contenders in the Eastern Conference, but they need that star player to lead them. Lowry cannot be this kind of player anymore and ever since Kawhi Leonard left in the 2019 offseason, they have been looking for that next superstar talent to build around.
Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are great talents, but neither of them are guys that are viewed as Top-15 talents in this league. Damian Lillard absolutely is and with a hole at the point guard position without Kyle Lowry, he could immediately join this team and make them a 60+ win threat in the East.
READ MORE: Predictions for NBA Trade Rumors: Beal, Lillard, McCollum, Porzingis & Siakam
Believe it or not, the Toronto Raptors actually are one of the best destinations for Lillard to join this offseason just because of how ready they are to win a championship. Even if they traded away guys like Anunoby, Boucher and Malachi Flynn to get Lillard, the Raptors would still be able to bring back Gary Trent Jr. in NBA free agency and could be an attractive destination for veteran free agents to sign with.
If Damian Lillard requests a trade, keep an eye on the Toronto Raptors in NBA trade rumors because Masai Ujiri, Toronto’s President of Basketball Operations, is always looking to make moves to set his team up for success. Adding Lillard would not be the first time the Raptors would trade for a superstar and it definitely would not be the last!
