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Toronto Raptors: 3 trades that can change the outlook on the season

By Larry Hammonds

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 11: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors reacts in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 11, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 11: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors reacts in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 11, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Trade No. 2:

It may be hard to pry away Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets with them going on a 6-2 run since he landed in Space City as part of the Harden trade. The Raptors will likely have to part ways with multiple draft picks to entice the Rockets enough to pull the trigger. With that being said, it isn’t realistic to expect the Rockets to be contenders in the West, so they should be looking to move Oladipo, and his expiring contract sooner rather than later and acquire as many assets as they can and fully embrace the rebuild.

The Raptors are a middle of the pack team, ranking 12th in offensive rating (111.5) and 15th in point per game (111.8), and defensive rating (110.0). Oladipo is averaging 20.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 steals in 32.6 minutes per game. A prolific scorer and a premier perimeter defender, he will give this Raptors team a much-needed jolt on both sides of the court.

His presence gives the Raptors another guard who can play on or off the ball and has the ability to break down defenses and attack the basket in addition to creating open looks for others. He’s also a versatile defender with the ability to guard positions one through three, and he will fit right in with this team’s defensive identity.

Oladipo has a 105.4 defensive rating on the season but has dialed it up on that side of the court in recent weeks. Since he made his Rockets debut, Oladipo possesses a 97.9 defensive rating, third-best in the league during that span among players who have played at least 30 minutes per game. The only Raptors player to rank in the top 20 during that span is OG Anunoby.

He’s in the last year of his contract, so money shouldn’t be an issue, and if the Kawhi Leonard trade was an indicator, the Raptors are completely okay with one-year rentals if they feel like it gives them a shot to compete for the title.

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