Toronto Raptors Face Trade Deadline Day Dilemma with P.J. Tucker or Wilson Chandler
The Toronto Raptors find themselves with a dilemma on NBA Trade Deadline day. Do they part ways with another first-round pick? Or do they keep it and hope other options will emerge?
It’s not a complicated situation for the Toronto Raptors on Trade Deadline Day. The team is looking for help along the wing and they reportedly have their sights set on P.J. Tucker or Wilson Chandler.
Either player would be an excellent fit in Toronto, but the problem, like always, is cost. Both the Suns and Nuggets are said to want a first-round pick in exchange, and since Chandler carries a higher salary plus an extra year of term, the Nuggets would need another player in any deal.
ESPN’s Marc Stein tweeted about the Raptors big Deadline Day decision earlier. Here’s what he said to say:
Toronto's big Deadline Day decision, of course, is whether to finally surrender a first-rounder (likely with Jared Sullinger) for PJ Tucker.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 23, 2017
In addition to P.J. Tucker, Toronto has also pursued Wilson Chandler, league sources say. Denver, like Phoenix, wants a first-rounder back.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 23, 2017
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So the Raptors dilemma is simple — do they part ways with another first-round pick, or do they keep it and hope another option emerges through perhaps a buyout?
Ideally, the Raptors could play hard ball with the Suns and hope they give in before the 3 p.m. deadline and send Tucker to the Raptors for Jared Sullinger and a second-round pick, but that’s likely wishful thinking.
If the Raptors do decide to pay up, we likely know who they’ll give up in a trade. For Tucker, it sounds like it would cost Toronto Sullinger and a first-round pick, while for Chandler it would cost Sullinger, a first-rounder, plus another prospect. There are a couple of different packages the Raptors could offer for Chandler, which Blake Murphy of Raptors Republic mentioned earlier, but the crux of any deal would involve a first-round pick.
Assuming Nuggets HAVE to get a 1st, here are potential Chandler deals that work for $. pic.twitter.com/u5bqyikKDV
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) February 23, 2017
Tucker is on an expiring contract, but the Raptors would acquire his Bird rights in any deal, so they could re-sign him this summer, but keep in mind the team does face a massive luxury tax crunch. That crunch is what makes the idea of acquiring Chandler difficult. The Nuggets’ 6-foot-8 forward carries just over a $12 million cap hit until the end of the 2018-19 season, meaning the Raptors would likely part ways with Patrick Patterson in the offseason, if they acquired Chandler.
But if you’re in the camp of the “Raptors should go all-in,” Chandler does make sense. He’s a versatile piece that would allow the Raptors to deploy an excellent lineup of Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Chandler, Patterson and Serge Ibaka. It still might not be enough to dethrone LeBron James and the Cavs, but I like the Raptors’ chances a lot more with that lineup and who would be coming in off their bench.
Next: Toronto Raptors Trade Deadline Day Primer and Rumour Roundup
Do you think the Toronto Raptors should part ways with another first-round pick and acquire Tucker or Chandler? Or do you think they should tight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.