Veterans Bruce Brown, Chris Boucher and Kelly Olynyk should be in demand
The responses varied from, these are bad, what’s wrong with you? to, not too shabby, but definitely not needle movers, to, LaVine for Gradey Dick? That’s insane!
Well, the NBA’s Feb. 6 trade deadline is now 50% closer than before, so we’re back with a few more ideas, building largely on the solid recent play of Raptors veterans Kelly Olynyk, Chris Boucher and Bruce Brown.
Boucher had been on a tear before battling an illness, while Olynyk finally looks healthy and was an absurd +39 in a dominant 22 minutes in Tuesday’s comeback win over Orlando, with four blocks, which tied his career high. Meanwhile, Brown has looked like his old self lately after battling a knee issue for over a year.
IDEA 1: A San Antonio swap
Raptors trade Chris Boucher and Davion Mitchell to San Antonio for Tre Jones, Charles Bassey, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Charlotte’s 2026 and 2027 second-round picks.
WHY?
Toronto is banking on Charlotte continuing to be one of the NBA’s worst franchises, meaning those seconds will be right near the top of the second day of the next two drafts following this June’s event. Those picks tend to have more value than even first-rounders in the 25-30 range. Toronto doesn’t take on any salary beyond this season either, but gives up on Mitchell, a decision made easier by the emergence of Jamal Shead.
WHY NOT?
There’s no reason not to for the Raptors. The issue could be from the Spurs. Yes, the franchise reportedly wants to speed things up a bit, given Victor Wembanyama is even better faster than previously anticipated, but would this be enough of an upgrade or can they do better? Jones is a traditional floor general, but he’s small. Mitchell would give them a top defender at the position, but a non-shooter. Boucher would provide energy, shooting and rebounding, and imagine trying to score in the paint on a Wembanyama/Boucher combination. The Spurs do have a ridiculous collection of first- and second-round picks coming their way between now and 2031, so there are other options to make a deal work if the Charlotte picks are too valuable.
IDEA 2: Boucher to Denver
Raptors trade Boucher to Denver for DaRon Holmes II, Zeke Nnaji, 2028 Denver second-round pick.
WHY?
Boucher has been an excellent Raptor, but he’s also one of the oldest players on the roster and doesn’t fit the team’s timeline. They’d have to take on three more years beyond this one of a contract that looks really bad at the moment (Nnaji showed some flashes early on, but has really regressed and isn’t a factor at all in Denver). Getting a second-round pick isn’t enough to do that, but what if Holmes also was included? They’d have to be confident the Achilles tear that cost Holmes his rookie season will not change his game, which might be too risky, but the guy who starred for Dayton and got drafted 22nd overall would be an intriguing fit. He thinks the game well, can pass and is a good rim-runner who can block shots. If he can develop a better shot and get stronger, scouts think Holmes can become a solid backup power forward or centre.
WHY NOT?
Even with the salary cap rising and Nnaji’s contract far from a mega-deal (it’s a lot less than the mid-level exception, for example), would Toronto want to take on two big-men projects and that money when they already have Jonathan Mogbo (and long-term prospect Ulrich Chomche) and might draft another power forward? Couldn’t they just buy a second-round pick to go after a Holmes-level prospect in the summer and not do Masai Ujiri’s former team such a big favour?
IDEA 3: Big help for Big D
Toronto trades Olynyk and its 2028 second-round pick to Dallas for Maxi Kleber, Quentin Grimes, Oklahoma City’s 2028 first-round pick, Philadelphia’s 2025 second-round selection.
WHY?
WHY NOT?
Dallas would probably balk at this for sure days ago, but just lost excellent young centre Dereck Lively II — perhaps for the season — and desperately need help in the middle. Olynyk is a different look because of his shot-making abilities (50% from the field and 48.5% from three this season, including 54.5% from deep over his past 10 games) and passing game, compared to Lively’s rim-running, athleticism and shot-blocking, but he’d help. He also won’t cost as much as other veterans like Nikola Vucevic or likely Jonas Valanciunas, either. The Mavericks could ask for Boucher instead and not get back the 2028 Toronto second in that variation, since the Raptors would be taking on Kleber’s salary next season.
IDEA 4: A Golden trade proposal
Toronto trades Olynyk and Mitchell to Golden State for Kyle Anderson, Gary Payton II, Gui Santos, 2025 Miami second-rounder and 2031 Minnesota second-rounder.
WHY?
Toronto spreads the money owed to Olynyk over two years in the form of Anderson, a useful veteran. The Raptors also pick up a couple of seconds and take a flyer on Santos. Golden State badly needs more of a shakeup, more shooting and has liked Olynyk in the past, according to reports.
WHY NOT?
Toronto can probably do better if both Olynyk and Mitchell are going and there just might not be much of a point to moving a popular Canadian along with one of the few good defenders on the roster, even if there are no guarantees Mitchell will be brought back moving forward.
@WolstatSun