Toronto Raptors Receive: C Steven Adams, G/F Danny Green, G/F Ziaire Williams, 2024 First-Round PIck (GSW via MEM), 2025 First-Round Pick (MEM), 2026 First-Round Pick (Swap – MEM), 2027 First-Round Pick (MEM)
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: F/C Pascal Siakam
With that said, building a champion entirely through the draft is exceedingly difficult. It’s seldom done. More often than not, a team is built through the draft to a point, and then they make a big deal to put the finishing touch on their contender.
We see it all the time. This summer, the Cleveland Cavaliers brokered a big deal to push themselves into title contention. They’d built a good team through the draft, but adding Donovan Mitchell made them great.
We even saw the Toronto Raptors do this once. They were a solid team before acquiring Kawhi Leonard in 2018. Still, if they hadn’t added him to their roster, it’s doubtful that they would have become NBA champions.
The Raptors seemed to fool themselves into thinking they could still be a great team after losing Leonard in free agency. That was a mistake. Pascal Siakam has continued to improve, but he was never going to be on the same plane as Leonard.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors & Memphis Grizzlies Updates
Despite being the team that did win a ring after making that big swing, their hesitancy to make an aggressive move to acquire Kevin Durant this offseason is head-scratching.
Should they really head in the opposite direction?
