Toronto Raptors NBA Trade Rumors: Raptors Look to Add a Swingman
The Toronto Raptors finally filled the gaping hole at the power forward spot after they acquired Serge Ibaka from the Orlando Magic in exchange for guard/forward Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round draft pick. However, Raptors president Masai Ujiri may not be done tinkering with the roster.
According to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times, the Raptors are now looking to add a swingman to fill the role that Ross used to have in the team. And as expected, some observers believe they should target Phoenix Suns forward P. J. Tucker.
Tucker is more of a combo forward, so he's not exactly a swingman like Ross. But he gets the job done on the defensive end and he can guard multiple positions. He's the right person for the job if the Raptors are looking for a pesky perimeter defender. He's reportedly being shopped by the Suns before the deadline, so this is an interesting option for the team.
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Adam Stocker of Raptors Rapture said Brooklyn Nets forward Bojan Bogdanović is also another intriguing candidate for the swingman role and he should fit in nicely. Bogdanović can give the Raptors an outside threat off the bench.
Meanwhile, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star said the team is not looking to trade their young players like Norman Powell, Lucas Nogueira, Jakob Poeltl, Delon Wright, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. He also revealed that any deal they make will likely involve Jared Sullinger's expiring contract, their other 2017 first-round draft pick, or one of their backup point guards.
Sullinger is actually a solid front court player who has an uncanny ability to track rebounds, but he hasn't played much ever since he returned from a foot injury that has kept him out for the first few months of the season.
Right now, the Raptors have high hopes for Powell, but he may not be ready to fill the role Ross left behind. Will the Raptors make one more move before the trade window closes?
