Raptors can trade for Anthony Davis in this 3-team ESPN proposal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Raptors haven’t been shy in recent years about making trades.
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If they want to be bold again this season, they can work a blockbuster deal for Anthony Davis.
AD, after less than a year with the Dallas Mavericks, appears to be on the trading block. Toronto and a number of other teams might be interested.
ESPN floated some different trade proposals in a new article Thursday, including a three-teamer involving the Raptors.
In that proposal, the Raptors would get Davis and center Tony Bradley.
The Dallas Mavericks would get RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Jarace Walker, Ochai Agbaji, a 2026 Raptors first-rounder and a 2027 Pacers first-rounder (top-14 protected).
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The Pacers hop into the deal to get some center help in the form of Daniel Gafford.
“The cleanest way for the Raptors to match Davis’ salary is to package Barrett and Poeltl, thereby taking a hit on the wing while improving at the center position,” ESPN’s Zach Kram writes. “From Dallas’ perspective, the former is still just 25 years old and could fit as a nice long-term performer next to Flagg, while the latter is a valuable if expensive big man who would give Dallas another option at center with Dereck Lively II.”
Davis would be an upgrade inside for Toronto, if he can stay on the floor. His health would be the biggest concern with any trade involving AD.
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The Raptors might need that jolt, though, and so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them take a risk like this if the opportunity presents itself.
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