New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G Fred VanVleet
Toronto Raptors Receive: C Jonas Valanciuas, G Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G Kira Lewis Jr., 2023 First Round Pick (via LAL0
The hypothetical deal between the New Orleans Pelicans and Toronto Raptors would have to wait a few weeks to be made. Valanciunas cannot be traded until October 6th because of the recently traded player restriction.
Valanciunas was acquired by the Pelicans from the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this offseason in exchange for Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams. A 2022 first-round pick via the Los Angeles Lakers was also sent to Memphis, and the teams swapped first and second-round picks in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Valanciunas will be heading north of the border in this trade, along with Kira Lewis Jr. Lewis was the No. 13th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Alabama. But, to trade away Fred VanVleet, the Raptors would assuredly be looking for more in return.
VanVleet is only 27-years old and on a relatively team-friendly deal when compared to what other point guards around the league are making. The Raptors would need to be genuinely enticed in order to part with him in a potential trade.
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Should this be a trade Toronto did at some point, they would be shoring up the middle with Valanciunas, and he would be returning to the organization that he spent the first 6.5 seasons of his career with.
Lewis was going to see his role increase in Year 2 with the Pelicans and would see it increase with the Raptors. He is lightning quick with good playmaking and defensive instincts, and he needs some development but is a solid point guard prospect.
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Ultimately, however, it is hard to imagine the Raptors pulling the trigger on a deal without some draft compensation and would likely ask for Nickeil Alexander-Walker as well.
