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Posted by 
u/maxrgriffith
 
  

Huge 4 team trade: Knicks, Lakers, Raptors and Magic


So this would be a massive trade and one that's quite complicated at that which means it probably won't happen. Still, it's a fun one and one that I think helps all the teams involved (although the case for the Magic is probably the weakest). And I always have to note that trading Obi would be the biggest bummer of all but he deserves better but will likely never the see court enough to showcase his talent if he's playing under Thibs and if Randle is ahead of him (and I also do have to admit that Randle has been great this year). To the team by team breakdown!

Knicks: The Knicks finally part with some of their draft capital to reach for a star level player. Anunoby isn't quite the name that Knicks fans may have wanted but he's a great defender, has made vast improvements at the offensive end and is on a great contract for his talent. I don't think this makes the Knicks a contender, but it certainly makes them better and gets them closer to that point. They also trade for Mo Bamba because in Mitch's absence they need someone who can rebound and provide rim protection, both of which he can do well. Randle has been rebounding like crazy lately but it's tough to put that on him every night and Mo Bamba should help with that. He's also a Harlem native so it's always great to see hometown players come to the Knicks too. They also get Toscano-Anderson and Gabriel, mainly for depth although both have shown flashes of potential at being useful bench pieces. The Knicks do give up 2 of their own picks but they still have plenty to deal for another star in the future.

Lakers: The Lakers go all in with this trade and empty their draft chest but I think this is the trade that gets them closest to contending while also giving them some flexibility for the future. FVV is an All-Star level point guard who can also play solid defense. He may be having a down year but with players like LeBron and AD, he'll have a lot to work with on the Lakers. Trent Jr. is also a solid 3 and D player and gives them their best 3 point shooter on the team. Both FVV and Trent Jr. have player options for next year and the expectation is that they'll opt out so the Lakers would have a chance to negotiate contracts that work for them or clear cap space to look for other free agents. They also get Reddish who they've reportedly had their eye on as well. Hernangomez is mainly here for salary purposes but he's at least a role player to replace Gabriel.

Magic: As I said above, this is the weakest case. The Magic trade several players and don't get any FRPs in return but none of the players they trade are ones that look to be a part of their future. They have way too many big men, especially now that Isaac is back and are taking offers on Mo Bamba already. Cole Anthony has been a solid player for them but has his limitations and they have other players like Suggs who they'd likely rather prioritize. They take Rose on for one main reason: to be a mentor for the rest of their young guards. The Magic have exceeded expectations this year, largely because of how good Banchero is but their guard play has been struggling. They'll also want to avoid being a team like the Rockets who have no locker room culture or vets to mentor their young players. Rose has shown an amazing talent for this at the Knicks and would be a great influence for them. They still get some second round picks and also gives them more room to give playing time to their likely two top 10 picks in the 2023 draft as well. Simply put, the Magic have a ton of potential on their team but it takes playing time to develop players and they have to make some hard decisions on who to let go of.

Raptors: This would be the closest that the Raptors get to blowing it up. Losing OG, FVV and Trent Jr. would be hard, but it makes sense for several reasons. OG has reportedly wanted out for a while now and this gives him that chance. Both FVV and Trent Jr. were likely to opt out and it seems like the Raptors have been reluctant to give them the money they're asking for. This lets them gain some major draft assets in exchange along with some promising young players (more on that below). They'll also still have Siakam and Barnes who are two great players to build around. They get two solid young players with lots of potential in Obi and Hartenstein who will both look better under Nick Nurse than they did under Thibs. Nurse is much more creative coach, especially on the offensive end and Obi and Hartenstein have been under-utilized by Thibs their entire tenures on the Knicks. They also get Cole Anthony who is a decent PG who they can try to develop but can also keep the team afloat while they figure out their next moves. He's shown some great flashes on the offensive end and hopefully can get better defensively on the Raptors. Finally, the take on Westbrook but he's essentially a rental for the year and will likely leave the team in the offseason.

That was a long one! Sound off in the comments below!

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