Toronto Raptors: Trading for Anthony Davis seems unlikely

Anthony Davis’ agent says his client is looking for a trade but can the Toronto Raptors jump to the front of the line and bring in another elite player?

Another disgruntled star is looking to be a part of a winning team but can the Toronto Raptors pull off another splash and acquire Anthony Davis? It is something they should consider but they will have some tough competition this time around.

There is no doubting Davis’ ability which is why the Raptors need to be prepared for an all-out bidding war with several teams but there are a couple of factors to keep in mind. For starters, the New Orleans Pelicans don’t need to make a deal at the trade deadline even though Toronto would want Davis for the playoffs.

When it comes to potential destinations for the star forward, it all depends on the approach New Orleans take as mentioned above. Not every team can make a deal for Davis if they have a player with a designated player like the Boston Celtics.

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If there is a team the Pelicans want to make a deal with, it’s Boston because they have the assets most teams covet. Draft picks and good young players but unless New Orleans is willing to wait until the summer, the Celtics will have to wait on the sidelines.

The most logical destination for Davis if the Pelicans want to move him sooner rather than later is to Los Angeles where LeBron James will finally get his guy. Michael Hoad of Sportsnet explains why the Lakers have plenty of assets to ship to New Orleans. They have players like; Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma who intriguing young pieces that give New Orleans a foundation to build with.

A player like Davis doesn’t normally become available considering how he is performing this season. He is averaging around 30 points and 13.3 rebounds per game which would help the Raptors address a couple of much-needed areas that need to be improved.

So why doesn’t a deal seem likely for Toronto? Looking at what LA and Boston can offer in a potential deal, the Raptors probably don’t have enough to get a deal done. Any deal for Davis would have to include Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, maybe Serge Ibaka in order to make the salaries work.

Does that look as appealing to the Pelicans? It all depends on what New Orleans is looking to do with Davis. While the news puts the team on the spot, the Pelicans probably won’t rush to get a deal done considering the various packages that could get offered to them.

Unfortunately, the Raptors don’t have the same assets as other NBA teams have and while Davis would give the Raptors the best odds to win it all, they need to think about the future too.

Do you think the Raptors can make a deal for Davis? Would the cost be worth it? Let us know in the comments below.