If the Toronto Raptors don’t want to waste the season, they need to look for players who can help improve their roster, and the Chicago Bulls may have one of the best short-term upgrades on the market in high-scoring guard Zach LaVine.
Despite LaVine’s return to averaging well over 20 points per game, the Bulls appear destined for another season without making the playoffs. The trade rumors have begun in earnest, with names like Zach Lowe mentioning the Raptors as a possible trade partner.
The Raptors’ offense is currently atrocious, and LaVine would immediately become the team’s best half-court scorer. If Masai Ujiri believes in this group (which he appears to do to an extreme), couldn’t a trade for LaVine demonstrate that he wants to compete this season and beyond?
While LaVine in Toronto has the potential to boost the Raptors’ offense, the team would be better off without him. The pitfalls of acquiring LaVine would be more detrimental to Toronto than his statistics would suggest.
Zach LaVine should not be traded by the Toronto Raptors.
Because of their recent wheeling and dealing, Toronto is short on assets. They will have no draft picks in 2024, and three of their top six players have contracts that will expire. Neither of those things will entice a Bulls team that will likely accept whatever offer will help them build for the future.
While both Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby are set to become free agents, it is reasonable to expect at least one of them to return next season as the No. 2 star behind Scottie Barnes. Building a team around Barnes has been difficult enough for this team, so why add another ball-dominant player to the mix?
LaVine is owed $43 million and $45 million over the next two seasons, respectively, and has a $48 million player option that he will almost certainly exercise. How can the Raptors sign LaVine, Anunoby, or Siakam while also extending Barnes? Even if they do this, the bench will remain underwhelming.
LaVine is a fantastic player, but he may be the wrong guy for the Raptors at the wrong time. This roster can be improved, but going all-in on LaVine while neglecting Barnes could come back to bite Toronto in the rear almost immediately.
Leave a Reply