The Toronto Raptors lost a massive piece this summer when Fred VanVleet decided to take a big-money deal with the Houston Rockets. This could be a gaping hole the Raptors are not able to fill in terms of their championship aspirations this season, regardless of the array of talents they still have on their roster.
At this point, the status quo does not seem like a very viable option for the Raptors. It just feels like Toronto will need to either embrace a rebuild in the near future or swing for the fences with a blockbuster deal that could help them win now.
Raptors Land Joel Embiid in Massive Trade With Sixers
James Piercey of NBA Analysis Network believes that the Raptors should go all-in now by pulling the trigger on a wild blockbuster trade for Joel Embiid.
Below are the details of the proposal:
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: F OG Anunoby, F/C Chris Boucher, G/F Scottie Barnes, F Thaddeus Young, 2026 First-Round Pick (TOR), 2028 First-Round Pick (TOR), 2030 First-Round Pick (TOR)
Toronto Raptors Receive: C Joel Embiid
The Raptors will obviously need to give up a whole lot in this deal, but there’s no denying that Joel Embiid is one of the few superstars in the NBA who commands this type of gargantuan price tag. Embiid also has the cache to turn any team into a serious contender, and it’s going to be no different for Toronto.
The Raptors will still have Pascal Siakam, which will allow them to form one of the most dangerous frontcourt duos in the league today. it goes without saying that Toronto’s championship odds will jump significantly with the addition of the reigning MVP.
Raptors Mortgage Future to Sixers in Exchange for Joel Embiid
The major prize for the Sixers here is Scottie Barnes. The former Rookie of the Year is exactly the type of player Philly will want to build around in the event that they are forced to part ways with Joel Embiid. Barnes, 22, is also the same age as Tyrese Maxey, giving the 76ers a core of two potential future superstars.
OG Anunoby will be a great addition as well, and with Tobias Harris still in the mix, you can see the Sixers being good enough to still be relevant in the Eastern Conference this coming season. However, the fact that they are able to acquire three future first-round picks as part of this blockbuster deal all but secures Philadelphia’s future in the years to come.
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