When the clock strikes 3 PM Eastern Standard on Thursday, Feb. 9, NBA teams will need to have their paperwork in order and approved for any trades to go into effect. Fans have already witnessed what is most likely the hottest exchange of the season when the Brooklyn Nets sent Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for 3 future draft picks, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Spencer Dinwiddie.

It wouldn’t seem as though anything as exciting as that will transpire over the final 48 hours. That said, astute fans know that championships, playoff pushes, and futures are also built via subtler trades that cover basketball minutia.

As such, SIA looks at some Toronto trade props, mostly simple “yes” or “no” bets and explains the consequences of each.

Of course, check out our NBA odds page for games, NBA futures, and the Toronto Raptors trade odds page.

Raptors Leaving Jurassic Park?

As Canada’s only NBA team, much of the focus in the national sports media has been on whether notable Raptors will wear different colours come Thursday night. The appearance of some names may tug at heartstrings given the roles they played in the 2019 championship run, but sports, apart from being good for one’s health, is also a business. As TSN’s Josh Lewenberg recently mentioned in a discussion on Sportscentre, it’s very much a “sellers market.” Plenty of clubs are duking it out for playoff seeding, especially in the West, and the Raptors possess a lot of attractive pieces that might fit the puzzle.

Fred VlanVleet

As recently as Tuesday, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski shed some of his insights into what might be brewing in the Ontario capital. Fred VanVleet, who was not only sensational in those Finals but has been very strong lately, is garnering interest from clubs out West. Interestingly, it appears both L.A. franchises have their eye on the guard. It’s no secret that as recently as a few days ago the Lakers were on the prowl to nab Kyrie Irving. Those plans fell through, forcing the Lake Show to continue shopping. VanVleet has still got it, as he’s shown lately. Plus, his championship experience could complement veterans like LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

OG Anunoby

The small forward is having a solid season. His points average per outing is a fraction away from 17. Lest they be overlooked, his 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals – which is high by typical NBA standards – make him an attractive catch. Two team names have been whispered in the rumour mill regarding Anunoby’s potential landing spot. Both the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans are, as per sources, in the running. Each needs all the help it can get these days (Toronto defeated Memphis on Sunday) but when they are healthy, locked, and loaded, they’re good enough to be a threat in the West.

Gary Trent Jr.

Gary Trent Jr. is another player for whom the odds favour a trade, albeit the least probable among himself, Anunoby and VanVleet. What makes Trent Jr. a potential candidate for a move is that, like VanVleet, he becomes a free agent this summer. As such, if the option is between simply letting him go to greener pastures for nothing in return or getting a decent role player or some picks, the Raptors had better investigate the latter option.

Pascal Siakam

Siakam’s name is not one that fans should get too excited about. We don’t mean regarding his play on the court. He’s terrific. Rather, of the four names in our Raptors trade props, he’s the only one for which the odds do not favour an exchange. +120 doesn’t mean Siakam will absolutely still be in Toronto by the weekend. The odds aren’t stacked too greatly against a trade, but the Raptors know a crown jewel when they see one. Walking Siakam out of the building would suggest Toronto is willing to go through a major overhaul, tearing the whole operation down.