Why The Toronto Raptors Do The Deal 

Both Russell and VanVleet are set to hit free agency this summer. That’s a critical detail in this deal. 

After all, both teams risk losing their starting point guard for nothing this summer. With that in mind, they’re swapping point guards because they each have one that suits the other team’s needs more. 

Partly, the Raptors do this deal because Russell is younger than VanVleet. They’re getting a look at him before the summer, and they’ll retain him if they like what they see. 

Still, the two-year age gap between them isn’t enough to justify this deal on its own. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: D’Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves & Toronto Raptors Updates

The Raptors should also look at Russell because he’s a better passer than VanVleet, and he’s shooting more efficiently than him this season as well. 

Should the Wolves really make this swap with those details in mind?