The Toronto Raptors have been turning some heads this season. They got off to a hot start, which put them at the top of the Eastern Conference. However, Toronto has lost four of their last five games. Still, the Raptors sit in third place in the Eastern Conference as Christmas approaches. With their hot start, Toronto has the playoffs in their sights, and they are looking to add a big man via trade before the February 5th deadline.
One player who seems likely to be traded is Anthony Davis. But the asking price for someone of Davis’ skill could be out of the price range of multiple teams. Now, Toronto can afford the 32-year-old, but the risk/reward may not be worth it.
Instead, the Raptors are more interested in a different big man from the Dallas Mavericks. Daniel Gafford has been mentioned in trade conversations, but he has been overshadowed by the Davis trade talks. Per Josh Lewenberg of TSN, Gafford is the more likely trade target for Toronto. In fact, the Raptors have already checked in on the Mavericks’ big man.
Raptors Not Looking to Trade Jakob Poeltl
The current starting center north of the border is Jakob Poeltl. The 7-footer is averaging 10.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this year. He is also shooting just under 70% from the floor, and is the only true center on the Raptors. Per Lewenberg, he is someone the Raptors would love to keep in Toronto.
Poeltl is more than serviceable on the court, and the Raptors love the way he has played this season. He is an efficient rebounder and can create problems in the paint for opposing teams. Toronto does not want to go away from that. However, any trade for Davis would have to involve Poeltl.
Gafford is the much more affordable option for the Raptors. The fact that the team has already checked in Gafford is further proof that they are more interested in him than Davis.
Gafford is dealing with an ankle injury, so he has played just 16 games this year. Still, he is averaging 8.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. The injury is taking its toll on the 6-foot-10 center, so the numbers are down this season. Still, when healthy, Gafford would pair nicely with Poeltl. He would likely come off the bench, but he would allow Toronto to have depth at center.
What Trade Assets Does Toronto Have?
TSN’s Lewenberg says it is very likely that Toronto makes a trade before the deadline. The Raptors are going to be able to afford anybody they try to trade for.
In terms of players, Toronto has a surplus of guards and forwards. There are two on the team that can be considered more likely to be traded: Gradey Dick and Ochai Agbaji, per Lewenberg.
Dick, a former first-round pick, is still on his rookie contract. He is eligible for an extension after this season, but also has one more year of team control before being a restricted free agent. The 22-year-old has taken a step back in his third year, but the potential is still there.
Agbaji, like Dick, is a former first-round pick out of Kansas. He has also regressed in a major way this year. Both his field goal and three-point percentages are way down, while his minutes are at a career low. He is also a restricted free agent after this season.
In terms of picks, the Raptors own all of their first-round picks. That is a rare thing these days, but it also gives them a lot of leverage in trade talks. They may not need to give up a first-rounder for Gafford, but if they chase a bigger name, those picks will come into play.
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