A Poeltl trade would be the easiest way to ensure a tank this year, and Poeltl's off to a fantastic start and his value is probably at an all-time high (that career-high FT percentage on a career-high volume hugely changes his value if it stays even above 70% over the longterm). But the organization went through such dark times without a center after 2020... they might be really reluctant to move him. And he's perfect for Darko's style of play. (In retrospect, drafting Missi would have been so nice, he looks fantastic for NOLA).
If they were shopping Poeltl, I think the Warriors make a lot of sense... it looks like they might enough to take another shot this year, but center is a major hole, they don't have a rotation player over 6'9". I'd imagine a three-way trade with Kuminga going to a third team and the Raptors getting filler and picks/prospects. Mitchell will also have some value to contenders. Maybe Brown, but matching the salaries is harder than with Mitchell.
With how tight the bottom of the east is (and how good the bottom of the west is by comparison other than Utah), I think it's realistic that by the time they get to the trade deadline, both making the playins and finishing with top 5 lottery odds could be on the table based on whether they hold steady or sell.
I do like the vision of this roster overall... I saw this last year but even more this year I think there's something a little reminiscent of those great Kings teams of the early 2000s. (Not talking about actual levels of these players, everyone on the Raptors would need to develop well to match their Kings counterparts, more talking about style of team here).
Poeltl = Vlade in terms of a mobile, paint-protecting big who's great in the P&R, and can pass really well.
Barnes = modern-day (a little less size but a little more shooting), Webber point-forward if he ever embraces how good he is in the post. The game against Denver where he got injured had me so excited for him because the shot chart was basically all in the low post plus a couple threes... really where he needs to be playing from.
Dick = Peja-light: elite shooter, versatile scorer, smart cutter.
Quickley = Bibby: versatile PG who could play on-ball or off-ball.
Barrett = a little harder to fit, there isn't a great comp to him on those kings teams, but I don't think he's stylistically a bad fit for that style.
What the Raptors noteably lack here is anyone who fits the Doug Christie 3-and-D role. Agbaji would be the closest.
Most importantly, Darko's preferred style of offense that emphasizes movement and improvisation bears a lot of similarities to the Kings' princeton offense, and the Raptors have been laser-focused in their player acquisitions on getting guys who can thrive in that system... bigs and forwards who can pass, cutters, movement shooters, guards who can play both on and off-ball. And ideally guys who can do multiple of these roles. Pretty much every move going back to the OG trade has seemed to share that vision.
But is the player level enough with the current core? Even if the offensive vision is really solid and the fit is really good, is there enough defense? That was always the downfall of those Kings teams. I can't help thinking what a perfect fit Flagg would be. Of course he's going to be a great fit on a lot of teams, but he's absolutely perfect for the Raptors in terms of being that lock-down multipositional defender who can also be another elite point forward on offense.
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