Fansided

One trade every NBA team needs to make

By Tom West

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 19: Hassan Whiteside (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 19: Hassan Whiteside (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 27: Richard Jefferson (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 27: Richard Jefferson (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are firmly in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference, and their recent 11-game win streak propelled them towards people’s attention. Now, there may be another team to look out for in the East that, at the very least, can bother the Cavaliers in the Conference Finals if they should meet when the playoffs roll around.

Clearly the Raptors are better than a year ago, and they don’t need to seek a big trade to improve their chances – especially as they’ve been playing so well without DeMarre Carroll. However, could a move to tweak their bench help?

As Marc Stein of ESPN has now reported, they have shown some interest in Markieff Morris.

It’s almost comical that this report emerged just hours after Morris had one of the best performances of his career and it came against the Raptors. With 30 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, one steal and two blocks in an impressive 41 minutes playing time, Morris led his Suns in a valiant effort just a day after they fired head coach Jeff Hornacek.

He looked like his former self before he demanded a trade at the start of this season, and reminded us that maybe with a new coach and a return to the starting lineup, he can be a valuable player once again. However, exactly how happy he is with the Suns long-term is still a concern, and at $8 million a year, he isn’t a cheap problem to have.

So, in order to pursue Morris and add a new talent to their bench, the Raptors could trade Patrick Patterson and a draft pick to the Suns.

For Phoenix, this lets them move on from Morris who is still questionable in their organization and acquire a solid floor-spacing power forward in the process. A draft pick is also helpful for their need to rebuild, too. As for the Raptors, they get a player who can bring some defense, small-ball versatility, rebounding, and driving ability to their bench.

The Raptors have such a strong organization now, they can handle someone like Morris, who should be far more content with one of the top teams in the NBA.

Next: Cleveland Cavaliers

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