The latest NBA trade rumors involve the Toronto Raptors, a team that is said to be looking for a big man. The Parent Herald reports that the Raptors are eyeing a number of power forwards and centers as possible trade targets. A more specific piece published by Morning News USA indicates that Toronto is shopping small forward Terrence Ross in an effort to acquire a frontcourt performer. The Oklahoma City Thunder have also been mentioned frequently in the rumor mill, and according to Sportsrageous , the team may be willing to deal center Enes Kanter in order to improve their overall roster.
A fresh NBA trade rumor that is spreading online states that the Toronto Raptors and Oklahoma City Thunder may be considering a deal that would send Enes Kanter to the Raptors. In this rumored trade proposal, the Thunder would receive Terrence Ross and power forward Patrick Patterson in return. This would be a legal trade (per the ESPN NBA Trade Machine ) since the salaries of Ross and Patterson combined are very close to that of Enes Kanter, so we can begin by verifying this hypothetical swap as an NBA-approved transaction if it were to take place.
https://twitter.com/zesty_thunder/status/748953251219906560
The Oklahoma City Thunder enjoy the luxury of having two quality centers, starter Steven Adams and backup Enes Kanter. Adams is the type of player who doesn’t put up huge numbers, but adds intangibles such as defense and toughness to the Thunder lineup. Kanter is a gifted offensive player and a strong rebounder, but he struggles on the defensive end of the court. Adams and Kanter compliment each other well, but Oklahoma City could afford to unload Enes Kanter for the right price, as they also have a capable young center in Joffrey Lauvergne who appears ready for an increased role.
Terrence Ross would challenge for the starting small forward spot if he is brought in by the Thunder. Current starter Andre Roberson is a very good defender but is limited offensively. Ross would be a useful piece either as a starter or as “instant offense” off the bench, a role he has played the majority of his NBA career. Patrick Patterson would not make as much sense for Oklahoma City, as they have youngsters Domantas Sabonis and Jerami Grant at power forward, as well as veteran Nick Collison. Patterson is a pretty skilled offensive player, but he would have difficulty finding playing time in Oklahoma City.
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While this trade might help the Thunder, the benefits of making this deal seem marginal at best. Terrence Ross is a dynamic scorer at times, but he is also an erratic performer known for being very streaky in his play. Oklahoma City could hold out for a better deal if they are ready to part with Enes Kanter, but we can at least say that the Thunder would ponder this offer and file it under ‘maybe.’
The Toronto Raptors have become a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference after earning the No. 2 seed in the playoffs last season, and winning two playoff series before falling to the eventual NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals. Reports indicate that the team is interested in adding a big man, but when analyzing the Raptors’ roster situation, it certainly appears that they need a power forward much more than they need a center, particularly with Jared Sullinger sidelined for up to three months with a foot injury, as detailed by Toronto Raptors beat reporter Josh Lewenberg via Twitter.
Enes Kanter does not have the ability to play any position other than center, so his role in Toronto would be to back up Jonas Valanciunas, much as Bismack Biyombo did last year. This would make Kanter’s fit as a Raptor less than ideal, and with Sullinger out and Patrick Patterson rumored to be part of this trade, Toronto would be woefully thin at power forward if this deal was made. This theoretical trade is not a great one for the Raptors in any case, but with Jared Sullinger injured and expected to be unavailable for an extended period of time, there seems to be no way Toronto could afford to ship out Patrick Patterson without getting a power forward in return.
Player Preview 2016-17: Who’s the Ross?: With a new contract and maturing personality, the Raptors need Terrence… https://t.co/NISS1UePw9 pic.twitter.com/xTNZU52Y7E
— York Region News (@yorkregionnews) October 21, 2016
Current NBA trade rumors are pointing toward a possible deal between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors. However, this rumored offer would be a 50-50 proposition for the Thunder that may cause them to pass and see if there is a better deal out there in the coming weeks. The Raptors could use front line help, but they especially need another power forward, and this swap would bring them a good backup center at the expense of a power forward position that is already weak. Consequently, Toronto would not enter into this particular transaction with Oklahoma City.
This NBA trade rumor is plausible enough that it could be revisited at a later date, since teams’ circumstances are always in flux during the NBA season. At this time, however, neither team would be ready to jump into a trade such as this that doesn’t make them markedly better or solve any of their problems without creating others. Most NBA trade rumors never advance beyond the rumor mill, and that is exactly where this one will stay for the time being.
[Featured Image by Sue Ogrocki/AP Images]