NBA: 4 potential trade packages for Anthony Davis
By Nick Crain
2. Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors already took one gamble on acquiring Kawhi Leonard. Why not take one more? Although we don’t know if the risk on a potential one-year Leonard rental will pay off, this trade would benefit both teams.
If Leonard does stay, a duo of him and Davis would be elite on the defensive end. If he leaves in free agency, at least the Raptors know they’d have a shot at re-signing another top-five player in the NBA in 2020 (though at that point, more moves would need to be made to keep him happy in 2019-20).
(See the deal on ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine)
Pascal Siakam has shown the league he has what it takes to be an NBA All-Star down the road. As one of the league’s most improved players, he’s taken the league by storm. He would get to play alongside Zion Williamson, assuming everything plays out as expected and he is drafted first overall. The Pelicans would also get a great point guard to pair with Jrue Holiday in Kyle Lowry.
For Toronto, dealing Siakam would be a tough pill to swallow, but let’s be honest: His ceiling is nowhere near as high as Anthony Davis, especially since he is only one year younger than Davis. This is an extremely risky move for Toronto, and the Raptors may not even consider this. The Kawhi Leonard decision this summer may really influence their trade options.