Grade the trade: Mavs add new big man in mock 3-team deal with Hawks, Raptors

Grading the trade for the Toronto Raptors

It is beknownst to teams around the association that Siakam may be a one-year rental, as he is on the last year of his contract and prefers to stay in Toronto. With this in mind, it seems like the Raptors are intent on shipping Siakam out of Toronto.

The Raptors could easily go in a different direction. They have a plentiful amount of wings, as previously mentioned. So rather than running it back with a similar team, sans Fred Vanvleet, the Raptors may want to start by offloading their best player in Siakam.

The return for Siakam would be adequate, but not exceptional. If Siakam were to be on a longer contract, the return would be different, but this trade ultimately revolves around Siakam's contract, so the return is worse than expected.

In exchange for the former All-Star, the Raptors would receive De'Andre Hunter, who is a formidable wing talent. Hunter averaged 15.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this past season. He also shot 46.1% from the field and 35% from three on 4.3 attempts per game.

Hunter provides the Raptors with yet another versatile wing. He can replace Siakam or come off the bench to allow OG Anunoby and Scottie Barnes to man the forward positions. It is known how the Raptors feel about Anunoby, so this would most likely be the route they follow.

More importantly, Atlanta would add multiple draft picks and rookie first-rounder Kobe Bufkin, who happens to play a position that Toronto sorely lacks talent at. The Raptors are thin at point guard, with only NBA journeyman Dennis Schroder and Malachi Flynn.

Tim Hardaway Jr. would also be joining the Raptors in this trade. He provides the Raptors with another floor-spacer to roll out next to Anunoby, Barnes, and Poeltl.

Potential starting lineup: Dennis Schroder, Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl

The Raptors receive a D+ for this trade. Their reasoning for shipping out Siakam is beyond me. He is a perennial All-Star and their best player. He is continuously improving his game and now he even looks like a point-forward, as he averaged 5.8 assists per game last season.

Toronto does receive some draft compensation, a rookie in Bufkin, and solid players in Hunter and Hardaway Jr. If Toronto wants to start over now, this trade makes a little sense. But, the best plan may be to run with Siakam to begin the season before attempting to trade him at the deadline if their record is worse than expected.