DeMarcus Cousins (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors, looking to better their last year's stint in the Eastern Conference finals, might find themselves a potential buyer for the likes of Greg Monroe and DeMarcus Cousins.
The Raptors will enter the 2016-17 NBA season with loads of expectation after reaching deep into the postseason last year.
Toronto, despite failing again to attract marquee free-agents (Pau Gasol, Al Horford), managed to keep their All-Star backcourt intact after locking in DeMar DeRozan to a five-year, $139 million deal.
General manager Masai Ujiri also made a wise move in using their mid-level exception to sign up-and-coming big man Jarred Sullinger on a one-year, $5 million deal.
Still, in the eyes of most basketball pundits, the Raptors are still a notch below than the defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers with regards to the current pecking order in the Eastern Conference.
Raps' potential maneuver:
While their starting backcourt of DeRozan and Kyle Lowry has been stellar the last few years, the Raptors are far from a complete team, still lacking a dominant presence down low.
There's roughly a couple of months left before the start of training camp. It's not too late for Ujiri to pull off a coup that would make the Raptors a legitimate threat to the Cavs.
Among the potential trade targets, Bucks' Greg Monroe and now Kings' DeMarcus Cousins are mention as the top targets for the Raptors in the events they make a power-play on the trading block.
Greg Monroe: According to multiple sources, the Raptors appear to be a prime destination for the 6-foot-10 Monroe, who has reportedly been made available by the Bucks a year after signing him to a three-year, $50 million deal.
The Raps are in need of an upgrade at the power spot, and Monroe can certainly fill the void. He averaged 15.3 points on 52 percent field goal clip with 8.8 boards per game last season.
The Bucks, who are already dealing with a talent surplus in their frontline (Jabari Parker, Thon Maker, Miles Plumlee, and John Henson), could ask for Terrence Ross and additional picks in exchange for Monroe.
DeMarcus Cousins: As the Kings wait for the right moment to ship their volatile franchise player, the number of teams interested for the big man also piles up. The Raptors are the latest team mentioned as likely suitors.
The Kings are expected to ask a hefty payment if they ever trade Cousins. The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics are viewed as frontrunners, but the Raptors could surprise everybody, especially if they decide to make Jonas Valanciunas as the centerpiece of their trade package.
The 25-year old Cousins averaged a career-high 26.9 points, 11.5 boards and 1.6 block per game to earn his second appearance on the All-Star and All-NBA second team selections.
