NBA Trades: Lakers land two huge upgrades in a possible Blazers and Raptors swap
By Cal Durrett
NBA Trades: Would the Raptors agree to the deal?
The Raptors acquired Bruce Brown in the Pascal Siakam deal and he opted into his player option, giving them the opportunity to try and trade him to a contender. That has yet to happen, and it is beginning to look like it might not happen unless a team such as the Lakers makes a move. The potential return for Brown may not be what they were hoping for with Russell, Hood-Schifino, and a 2025 second, but it may not be all that bad.
After all, Russell can possibly be flipped at the trade deadline for a couple of seconds, or even a first, if the Raptors are willing to take back salary that goes beyond next season. Hood-Schifino was a recent first-round pick who has yet to get a chance to show what he can do, while the Lakers second may be in the top-half of the second-round.
That makes it at least a decent pick, as opposed to one from, say, the Boston Celtics. The Raptors may hold out for a better deal, but getting a recent first-round prospect, a decent second, and a veteran player that they can flip is actually a competitive offer.