Three trades the Toronto Raptors should make with the Indiana Pacers

Option 3: The Pacers and the Raptors go for a blockbuster trade

And we come to the blockbuster part, which most people presumably expected.

For this trade to push through, the Pacers must be firmly convinced of this roster’s win-now potential. In contrast, the Raptors have to be committed to retooling their roster around Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes (despite a concerning sophomore slump).

OG Anunoby is easily the perfect player to round out Indiana’s core. Currently and inarguably one of the best defenders in basketball, Anunoby’s offensive growth has made him a legitimate two-way threat who could be on his way to stardom. Toronto’s willingness to liquidate him remains to be seen, but trading him to net draft capital in return seems pretty tenable under the premise of retooling.

Gary Trent Jr. has struggled with his shot, but precedence shows that he’s much more likely to regain his form. He should be an adequate replacement for Buddy Hield and Chris Duarte, whom the Raptors will undoubtedly try to pluck from Indy. Two protected first-rounders in 2025 and 2027, as well as a 2023 first-round pick from Boston, should be enough for the Pacers to secure Anunoby and Trent Jr. from Toronto.

*Perceived price gouging with the draft picks? Blame the Rudy Gobert and Dejounte Murray trades last summer for that.