As the Toronto Raptors look to build a contending team over the coming years, it will benefit them to evaluate the teams currently at the top of the mountain and see how those teams built out their rosters.
One common theme is that winning teams tend to find undervalued players on other teams and either trade for or sign them. That is a theme among all of the Conference Finalists still playing right now. The Minnesota Timberwolves scooped Nickeil Alexander-Walker up as a trade throw-in, as did the Indiana Pacers with Aaron Nesmith.
The Dallas Mavericks bought low on P.J. Washington and signed Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr. to minuscule contracts. The Boston Celtics arguably bought very low on Kristaps Porzingis, also adding a contributor like Luke Kornet for nothing.
Can the Raptors learn that lesson and find some undervalued gems on the trade market? Let’s look at three candidates around the league who boast a lot of upside but could be acquired for cheaper than their value on the trade market.
No. 3: Jae’Sean Tate, F, Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets have built a team with proven veterans surrounded by multiple young options at every position, and as a result look like a team poised to continue moving up the standings. At the same time, they cannot hold onto everyone as they continue to make additions and increase the playing time for their up-and-coming prospects. That may mean a buy-low opportunity will open up for Jae’Sean Tate.
The 6’4″ forward is a tough defender, comfortable stepping into the lineup and defending four positions. He also averaged just 15.9 minutes per game this season as players like Dillon Brooks, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason and Amen Thompson all joined the rotation. There isn’t room in the long-term plan for Tate, and Houston will almost certainly entertain trade offers for him.
The Raptors can use versatile defenders to fill in around their core, and Tate has been a difference-maker when he is on the court in a wide variety of lineups. If he can be had for a single second-round pick Toronto should consider pulling the trigger.
No. 2: Corey Kispert, F, Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are hardly a scion of smart team-building, and their latest attempt at a full rebuild saw them win just 15 games and land the second overall pick in this year’s draft. Whether or not they use that pick on a frontcourt player, it’s clear that the Wizards’ forward room is getting a bit too crowded.
Kyle Kuzma is a high-volume combo forward, while Deni Avdija had a strong fourth season as he began to deliver on his Top-10 draft pedigree. Bilal Coulibaly was this past year’s Top-10 pick, and his defensive chops and athleticism have the makings of a difference-maker down the road.
That does not leave much room for Corey Kispert, the former Gonzaga forward who just finished his third season in the NBA. Kispert averaged fewer minutes than all three of those players but was arguably the best offensive player of the bunch, shooting 38.3 percent from 3-point range on a high-volume of attempts and parlaying that gravity into strong finishing inside as well.
Kispert is not much of an athlete and struggles on defense as a result, but in the right role he could excel as a bench gunner and offensive weapon, and he still has upside to continue growing his game. Whether it’s a one-player trade or part of a larger move, the Raptors should gauge the value on Kispert.
No. 1: Moses Moody, G, Golden State Warriors
Corey Kispert can be a rotation player. Jae’Sean Tate can be a rotation player. The one trade target who should be on the top of the list for the Toronto Raptors is Golden State Warriors wing Moses Moody, who could be a long-term starter for the team once freed from his confines with the Warriors.
Golden State states verbally that they believe in Moody, but then turn around shove him down the rotation, often completely out of the picture. Last season he played in just 66 games, and nearly all of the games he missed were due to coaching decisions, not injury. Rookie Brandin Podziemski, the veteran Gary Payton II and struggling wing Andrew Wiggins were all locked into the rotation higher than Moody.
The problem is that Moody was awesome whenever he took the court — not in a “hidden All-NBA player” sense, but he seemed to always make lineups better when he got to play. He took and made difficult 3-pointers, was active on defense and always knew where to be on both ends of the court. He needs to continue improving as a rebounder and is not a lockdown option defensively yet, but the potential is all there. He deserved twice the 1156 minutes he played last season.
If the Warriors don’t value Moses Moody as a no-doubt rotation player, let alone as a starter, there is value to be had on the trade market. Could the Warriors take a protected first and get off of his salary compeltely? Could he be a part of a Jakob Poeltl or Bruce Brown deal? Moses Moody, part of the same class that produced Scottie Barnes, deserves a larger role, and the Raptors could be poised to offer him one.
