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The two Toronto Raptors bigs, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, are entering free agency.
A quick way to replace them with a starting center on a short-term deal is to trade for Steven Adams.
This trade isn’t exciting for the Thunder, but it does save $20 million in the payroll, which would certainly interest ownership.
The proposal
Thunder receive: Patrick McCaw, Stanley Johnson, 2023 second-round draft pick
Raptors receive: Steven Adams
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Why the Thunder do it
It’s a salary dump. A rebuilding team wouldn’t want to pay Adams $27.5 million, and this adds inexpensive depth, a future second-round pick and makes the Thunder’s draft pick next year more likely to be better.
McCaw and Johnson have not proven themselves to be productive NBA players, but the Thunder can still get a look at them for a year. Perhaps they can be used at the trade deadline to get more second-round picks. If not, they fill space on the depth chart for one year and then both parties move on.
It’s not exciting. It’s just the organization saving $20 million.
Why the Raptors do it
With Serge Ibaka testing free agency and rumors that Marc Gasol is returning to Spain to play for Barcelona, Toronto needs a new center.
They could re-sign Ibaka, but he may want a multi-year deal. There’s an important reason to not give a deal into 2021-22: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s contract is expiring after this season, and if he doesn’t re-sign with the Milwaukee Bucks on a supermax, the Raptors could make a run at the two-time MVP.
So they get Adams instead, who provides a good post presence on both ends of the court and can fit into the defensive scheme, and on a one-year deal is not a commitment.
The Raptors throw in McCaw and Johnson to trim a little more salary, and there’s the deal. A starting center on a one-year deal to replace their former bigs.
Why the Thunder don’t do it
This is very minimal return. Adams is a fan-favorite, and it’s important to keep players who mean something to a city. There’s a good chance that one more year of Adams is worth more than the second-round pick will be.
But is that worth the $20 million extra it would cost to keep him instead of the salary dump? If I’m in ownership’s shoes, I might lean no.
Why the Raptors don’t do it
Toronto is sitting at $86 million with a few needs: Yes, they need a center. But they also need to either re-sign Fred VanVleet or to replace him. They may have to use the mid-level exception in free agency on such a point guard, or use that No. 29 pick on one — maybe hope that Tyrell Terry is still around, or perhaps they like Cassius Winston enough to make him the backup — and hope that he’s ready for playoff time immediately.
Who says no?
The Raptors need a center, but they can find other ways to bolster the lineup without trading for Adams. Maybe they convince Ibaka to sign a one-year deal by loading him up with cash. That second point guard behind Lowry is also important; VanVleet has stepped up time and time again for Toronto.
Adams would help them, but the pieces Toronto would not be able to sign may be too much for the team to go through with it.
But it’s something to consider.
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