The Toronto Raptors have managed to stay afloat despite losing their top player this Summer, but they may want to add more assets to compete now.
At first glance, this trade looks like it is far too good to be true for the Chicago Bulls. Acquiring a first-round pick for a player who is completely out of the rotation for the Bulls seems absurd, but the Raptors can afford to pay this price.
Denzel Valentine is a player who should be in the rotation on almost any NBA team, but for some reason, Jim Boylen has decided that he does not want him to see any minutes. Valentine’s offensive game is very well-rounded, as he can pass, shoot, dribble, and score well. He would serve as a valuable bench piece for Toronto behind Fred VanVleet, where he could focus on being an off-ball and floor spacing threat for the reigning champions.
In addition, getting rid of Stanley Johnson is another enticing possibility for Toronto. The former top-ten pick has been an utter disappointment throughout his career, but he has failed to meet even the lowest of expectations as a Raptor. Johnson is owed $7.5 million total over this season and the next, and getting his cap hit off of the books is probably something worth looking in to. The pair of second-round selections can also be utilized by Toronto to add assets to win next season.
As for the Bulls, taking on Johnson’s salary is not as big of a deal, as he is not too big of a cap hit and is at a positional need for Chicago. Johnson is still a young player at just 23 years of age, but his potential seems all but gone after five NBA seasons. Rather, the real prize here is the 2020 first-round pick. With this, the Bulls can add a very solid talent to their roster to support the core already in place.