Trade Talk: Examining Possible Trade Scenarios for the Raptors

Throughout this season, trade rumors involving the Toronto Raptors have been few and far between as GM Masai Ujiri continues to preach continuity and chemistry as the key ingredients for building a successful team. With the trade deadline inching closer, the Raptors aren't expected to make any significant moves but it's safe to assume the front office will explore options if they can address certain team issues without giving up their main core of assets.

Given these circumstances, let's consider a few trade scenarios that strictly involve Toronto's expiring contracts and second round picks.

Toronto Trades Landry Fields and a Future 2nd Round Pick to Denver for Wilson Chandler

Wilson Chandler has been a recurring name in trade talks around the league this year. He's a player the Raptors have previously coveted under Bryan Colangelo and someone Ujiri is familiar with from his time in Denver. Chandler is an athletic wing that can score and crash the glass effectively, which also enables the ability to play him at power forward in small-ball lineups.

At his full potential, Chandler can be highly valuable to the Raptors as a 3-and-D forward. That said, his defensive form has regressed over the years due to nagging injuries and he is only shooting 34 percent from three-point range this season. To make matters worse, he's posted a net rating of -6.9 so far while the Nuggets perform with a positive net rating of 1.5 when he's off the court. Additionally, he is owed $7.2 million next season (though only $2 million guaranteed; shades of John Salmons?).

For Denver, the goal is to accumulate young assets and create cap flexibility. Fields' expiring contract is useful here but is a future second round pick enough of a sweetener for Chandler? I have to believe there are better deals on the table for Denver but anything is possible.

Toronto Trades Landry Fields and Greg Stiemsma to Charlotte for Marvin Williams

Despite failing to live up to draft-day expectations, Marvin Williams has managed to carve himself a decent career as a jack-of-all-trades role player in the NBA. He's a serviceable small forward that can defend well with his speed and length, rebound the ball effectively for his size, and play off the ball by cutting to the basket or camping at the three-point line. His production this season hasn't been very good (shooting 33 percent from three), as his numbers in nearly every statistical category have declined in comparison to last season with the Jazz. However, that can be attributed to the fact that Charlotte has been playing him as a stretch four off the bench, a role that has been challenging for him to succeed in.

For the Hornets, the trade offers cap relief by taking on two expiring contracts, although neither player provides any real solution to their roster. Marvin's absence would however make room for their rookie Noah Vonleh (a more natural stretch four) to finally enter the rotation. The question for Toronto is, do they take a chance on Williams given the $7 million remaining on his contract next season?

Toronto Trades Landry Fields and Chuck Hayes to Denver for Danilo Gallinari

After missing the entire 2013-14 season due to tears in his left ACL and right meniscus, Danilo Gallinari has shot poorly from the field (34 percent) and from three (30 percent) this year in limited playing time - understandably so given his 18-month absence from NBA action. But prior to his injury, Gallo was often a focal point in the Nuggets' balanced offense, putting up per game averages 16.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 2012-13. When healthy, he is a skilled forward with decent jumpshooting range and although he isn't revered for his defense, he has enough size and speed to pester opponents with similar frames - just ask Kevin Durant.

Denver is looking at a salary dump here but for the Raptors, the risk in trading for him is obvious: he's owed $11.56 million next season (fully guaranteed) and he's currently a shell of his former self. But other than Chuck Hayes' veteran presence, the Raptors don't lose much here and if the team is setting their sights high on the 2016 offseason (i.e. The Summer of KD), Gallinari's expiring contract next year becomes a valuable chess piece in clearing cap space for a max contract.

Now, a break down of some basic and advanced stats for the players mentioned (including some good years and bad):

(All stats from NBA.com)

Based on Toronto's unwillingness to trade any major assets and the lack of attractive names kicking around the rumor mill, it's hard to see Ujiri make any move at all before the deadline. What the Raptors could really use is a forward that can stretch the floor and defend the perimeter effectively (basically a combination of Terrence Ross and James Johnson). However, those players are only dealt at a premium in today's NBA. Thus, it may be best for the Raptors to carry on with their current group of players and re-evaluate the roster at season's end.

What do you guys think of these options? Is there something else you think the Raptors could do?