Why The Toronto Raptors Do This Trade
The Toronto Raptors have shown in the past they are willing to take risks if they feel it will put them in a position to contend. They did it three years ago when they acquired an injured Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs and it resulted in the franchise’s first NBA Championship. In this scenario, they do it again by acquiring Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers.
The price for Lillard is astronomical, but for the Raptors, it is a price they can afford. When you break it down, Fred VanVleet and Lillard are an even swap when it comes to roster alignment and what they’d have to replace. A backup point guard would be easy to fill as veterans would want to latch on with a contending Raptors team.
The biggest piece they will struggle to replace is OG Anunoby, who is coming into his own as a two-way difference-maker. But, to acquire a player of Lillard’s caliber, you have to surrender something and Anunoby, along with the draft picks, is that something.
Damian Lillard would provide Toronto with game-breaking offensive ability. Should the team be unable to retain Kyle Lowry, Lillard would be an excellent replacement. But, they should do what they can to bring him back in addition to re-signing Gary Trent Jr. in restricted free agency.
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That would give Toronto an excellent backcourt trio to pair with Pascal Siakam and the makings of a very strong offense. That is the core of a roster that veterans would assuredly be attracted to as an NBA Finals dark horse coming out of the Eastern Conference.
