After a dreadful start to the season, where the Raptors currently hold the 12th spot in the Eastern Conference (7-12), many questions are being raised as to how can we turn this team around.
While an optimistic answer may be that most of our losses have been down to very close games, or that poor officiating has played a role, S&S looks beyond excuses, but potential short-term fixes that could be mended in the transfer market.
One idea that comes to mind is trading Kyle Lowery
Kyle Lowry, who is third in all-time scoring as a Raptor with 10,019 points while standing first in assists (4,035), steals (843), and three-pointers made (1,431), is likely the player the organization would be most comfortable trading away.
Potential Trade Suitors:
Washington Wizards
The Wizards are just awful, and that’s being nice about it. They have a physically-deteriorating PG in Russel Westbrook, while the rest of their roster contains players that most basketball fans have never heard of. However, Washington has had one bright spot thus far, Bradley Beal.
Beal is having a career-best season. The 27-year-old is leading the league in scoring, averaging 35.4 points for the season. Apart from the mega points production, Beal is also averaging 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals.
Beal is an elite scorer who needs a winning system. We, as the Raptors, have a winning system, but we need a scorer. Match-made in heaven.
Give: Lowry and Siakam
Receive: Beal and Bertans
Siakam, despite signing a max deal last offseason, has been arguably Toronto’s biggest disappointment so far this year. Siakam. PPG are down by 4, both his FG/FT %’s have fallen, his steals are down, and is blocking less shots.
Washington needs a new franchise player, one to restart its team with, and Siakam can help fill that void. Lowry would also be a replacement for the currently awful Russel Westbrook, who is not playing B2B’s this year and shooting 60% from the FT line (yuck).
Beal would give Toronto an elite scorer and help FVV takeover as sole PG, the role he deserves.
The NBA trade deadline is March 25, we’ll have to wait and see if anything goes down.
Works Cited:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/siakapa01.html