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5 Game-Changing Trades The Toronto Raptors Should Make

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 4, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) boxes out Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) in the third quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 113-86. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) boxes out Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) in the third quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 113-86. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Raptors
Apr 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) blocks Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (4) from shooting in the first half at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Nerlens Noel

Nerlens Noel wouldn’t exactly be the perfect fit for a team that needs help at the power forward spot, but if improving the defense is the goal, adding a player with Defensive Player of the Year potential certainly couldn’t hurt. Remember, just last year in his second season, he averaged 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.

The Philadelphia 76ers have a logjam at center between rookie phenom Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor and Noel. With recent Okafor trade rumors popping up, the Sixers may have realized it’d make more sense to trade him instead of Noel.

But if Noel is still available because of his declining numbers this season (8.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks in 18.2 minutes per game), he could be the rim protector and defensive anchor the Raptors need late in the fourth quarter when Jonas Valanciunas becomes unplayable.

The question is, what would the Sixers be willing to accept for one of their injury-prone centers?

In our first scenario, the Raptors offer Jared Sullinger for salary-matching purposes and a 2017 first round pick — whichever one Philly projects to be more valuable between Toronto’s own selection and the additional pick they’ll receive from the Clippers.

Sullinger would serve little purpose in Philadelphia’s frontcourt, but his $5.6 million contract comes off the books this summer anyway. The real asset would be the first-rounder in this year’s draft to give the Sixers two last cracks at adding talent through the draft. They’d then enter the 2017-18 NBA season with legitimate hopes of rising up the Eastern ladder.

But if one pick and an unnecessary frontcourt player aren’t enough for Noel, an alternative that might appease Philly is Jakob Poeltl, Fred VanVleet and the first-rounder.

Poeltl is an unproven rookie who hasn’t gotten much playing time in a crowded frontcourt that’s trying to win now, but he’s the exact kind of young player a team like the Sixers should think about taking a flier on.

VanVleet adds guard depth to a team currently thriving with T.J. McConnell at the 1. With Jerryd Bayless done for the year, having an extra young guard wouldn’t hurt, though the 2017 first-rounder would still be the ultimate prize.

However, the Sixers have been stockpiling first round picks for more than three years now, and might prefer to trade Okafor since he’s been a far worse fit alongside Embiid than Noel. Philly may also get better offers than this on the open market, and with Noel being a restricted free agent, Toronto may not want to deal with re-signing him in the same summer where Kyle Lowry can hit free agency.

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