The Toronto Raptors are entering a bit of a retooling phase for the franchise. Long-time starting point guard Kyle Lowry signed a contract with the Miami Heat in NBA free agency and was part of a sign-and-trade to end up there.
Lowry signed a three-year, $90 million deal to land in South Beach. In exchange, they received Goran Dragic, Precious Achiuwa and a future second-round pick. While that package falls short of what the team was looking for at the trade deadline in exchange for Lowry, it is better to get something for him instead of watching him leave for zero compensation.
With Lowry on the way out, the Raptors can move forward with a new core if they so choose. Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam can be at the forefront of the new group, with Scottie Barnes, the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. making up the foundation of the roster for the foreseeable future.
While that group has some potential, it is lacking in star power. What if the Raptors re-engaged the Philadelphia 76ers in trade talks centered around Ben Simmons to bring some star power to the roster?
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Philadelphia sent an offer to the Raptors, asking for Kyle Lowry in a sign-and-trade, VanVleet, Anunoby and the No. 4 pick in exchange for Simmons. There is a shortlist of players in the NBA that would be worth three starters and a top-four pick, and Simmons is not currently on it.
If Toronto got involved again in trade talks for Simmons, the package would certainly be less steep than that. What could a potential trade offer look like?
Here is the best possible trade that the Raptors could offer for Simmons.