As far fetched as it may seem, the Toronto Raptors have reportedly put together an offer for Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis. The Raptors would need to give up virtually half of their team for the forward, and the rumors have had Raptors fans and NBA fans alike wondering: is an Anthony Davis to Toronto trade worth it?
A Raptors trade for Anthony Davis would need to include Pascal Siakam. The emerging star from Cameroon currently looks like the best player in Toronto not named Kawhi and will be at the top of the Pelicans target list. New Orleans will be looking for more young talent in the trade, and the Raptors will most likely need to package 21-year-old OG Anunoby along with either Delon Wright or Fred VanVleet.
In order for salaries to line up, either Jonas Valančiūnas or Serge Ibaka would need to be added to the deal, although the Pels would most likely prefer Serge. New Orleans will now be entering a rebuilding stage, so they’ll also be looking for future first round picks in the deal as well.
Raptors Trade: Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Serge Ibaka, Delon Wright, 2021 1st Round Pick, 2023 1st Round Pick
Pelicans Trade: Anthony Davis, Cheick Diallo
Should Toronto Give Up This Much?
Losing Pascal will hurt. He’s quickly become a top player on the Raptors, and his impact on a nightly basis is undeniable. From his quickness running the floor to his lockdown defense, he’s truly a unique talent. Cheick Diallo may not be anywhere close to Siakam’s skill level, but he’ll provide the Raptors with a bit more depth, something that they’ll be losing in this trade.
Serge Ibaka has been a mid-range sharpshooter for the Raptors this year, and his monster blocks have electrified the Scotiabank Arena. But, as good as Ibaka can be, he’s absolutely replaceable, along with the other players included in this deal. Simply put, Anthony Davis is better than all of these players put together times five, and he’s worth every penny.
Boasting two generational talents in their primes is something unheard of for Toronto. Never before have they had the opportunity they currently have, and they need to pounce on it. Kawhi Leonard will become a free agent this summer, and chances are, he isn’t staying in TO. The Raptors time to win is NOW.
If the Raptors want to convince Leonard to re-sign, they’ll need to at the very least make the NBA Finals, and they can’t do that with this roster. Bringing in AD would instantly make the Raptors the favorites in the East. Losing fan favorites like Pascal Siakam may hurt Raptors fans (especially after DeRozan’s departure last summer), but a championship would easily mend their broken hearts.
Even though AD has voiced his intentions of signing with LA once his contract is up, the opportunity in front of the Raptors is too great to pass up. Toronto needs to throw everything they have at NOLA (minus Kawhi Leonard) to land Anthony Davis. The pros outweigh the cons, and the Raptors need to be willing to make sacrifices to win.