NBA Trade Rumors (Photo : REUTERS)
The Toronto Raptors will enter the free-agency season hoping they can land an All-Star caliber free-agent who can take them to the next level. Unfortunately, the Raptors aren't much known to be a destination among elite free-agents in the past, and it may be true up to now with New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Miami still the most attractive free-agency destinations out there.
For small market teams trying to go up in the rankings, the only other way to soup up the caliber of their roster is through trades. NBA scribe Kevin Nimmock of Fan Sided thought it too, suggesting the Raptors should pull the trigger on a trade that would address their problem down low.
According to Nimmock, Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri should begin exploring trade options elsewhere to keep his team on the right track following two consecutive postseason appearances. With starting power forward Amir Johnson hitting the free-agency market this summer, finding a better replacement is a priority for the Raptors GM, though he doesn't rule the possibility of renewing ties with Johnson.
However, Nimmock stressed the Raptors need to be aggressive on the trading block in order for them to get an upgrade at power forward. While he's not ruling out the prospect of re-signing Johnson, he thinks Ujiri has to make a play for Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, who has been on the trading block for quite some time.
In his trade proposal, the Raptors Ruptures editor believed the Raptors would have to pull off a sign-and-trade deal with Johnson packaged with Terrence Ross and a draft pick in exchange for Faried to make the trade work.
Farried, whose four-year, $50 million contract will kick in on July 1, would be a great acquisition for the Raptors, especially in its frontline that direly needs some active bodies after ranking 26th in the league in rebounding at 41.5 boards per game. The Nuggets, on the other hand, will get a veteran in Johnson along with an up-and-coming player in Ross. The inclusion of a draft pick (20th overall pick or second round picks) would serve as a sweetener for the Nuggets to buy in.
The same trade package could also be ideal, if the Raptors would pursue a deal with the Chicago Bulls for big man Taj Gibson. Averaging 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game, Gibson took a step back last season with the arrival of Pau Gasol, but NBA insiders and scouts still view him as a highly-talented player. The Bulls are trying to restructure their roster after replacing Tom Thibodeau with Fred Hoiberg as its head coach, and there are rumors that Gibson could be the odd man out.
