As the NBA Summer League continues, the free agency period is still underway in the background. Not many teams are still actively making signings, but there are stars still on the board like 22-time All-Star LeBron James, 11-time All-Star James Harden, and six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan.While the Toronto Raptors aren’t necessarily in the market to sign a player of this caliber unless they’re willing to take a significant pay cut, they could still use some adjustments to the roster. Specifically, their starting point guard, Immanuel Quickley, and center, Jakob Poeltl, showed last year that they may not be the players of the future for the franchise. This becomes especially apparent when examining their hefty contracts; the pairing is owed over $201 million over the next four seasons.Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) and point guard Immanuel Quickley (5) | Dan Hamilton-Imagn ImagesIt’s not like either player should be out of the league; they are both quality role players, but they are being paid like stars, and that simply can’t fly in this current Collective Bargaining Agreement. As harsh as it may seem, if the Raptors want to contend for a championship, as displayed by trading for seven-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard, one or both of these two must be taken off their books.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementObviously, the only way to do that would be through trades. The unfortunate reality is that draft compensation would likely need to go to the franchise that takes on the contract(s). Luckily for Toronto, there may be the perfect suitor for Quickley, and the Raptors could receive a two-time champion in return.Two franchises could become very valuable to general manager Bobby Webster if he were to initiate a trade. Those teams are the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat; both teams just made blockbuster deals to acquire Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, respectively. The Trail Blazers are key because they have openly put guard Jrue Holiday on the trading block, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, and the Heat are equally important because they are in desperate need of a point guard.That’s exactly why the three general managers should have a phone call to discuss a potential three-team trade. Here are the details to suffice everyone’s needs:AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Toronto Raptors receive Jrue Holiday (POR).The Miami Heat receive Immanuel Quickley (TOR).The Portland Trail Blazers receive Bobby Portis and Davion Mitchell (MIA) and a 2027 first-round pick (TOR).There’s no hiding the fact that the Raptors are defensively centered. With a core of Leonard, Scottie Barnes, and Collin Murray-Boyles, they very well could have the best defense in the NBA next season. Add in a skilled veteran with two championships, an Olympic gold medal, and six All-Defensive Selections to his name, and the debate then becomes whether or not the Raptors have the greatest defense of all time.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdv
Content Source: Yahoo News
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