There is a certain type of wind that blows through Toronto in February. It makes you want to stay inside and look at trade machines until your eyes go blurry. I was thinking about Jarrett Allen the other day, mostly because he seems like he would enjoy a quiet afternoon at a library, but the internet is currently shouting about Domantas Sabonis.
Michael Scotto is reporting that the Raptors have offered RJ Barrett and Ochai Agbaji to the Sacramento Kings. It is a strange feeling, seeing RJ's name in these things. He is from here, he plays hard, and he has that look on his face like he just realized he left the oven on. Now, he might be headed to California, where they have avocados and the sun actually works.
The Logistics of Moving Large Men
A straight swap is never enough for the league offices, apparently. The rumors suggest the Raptors need a third team to help carry the burden of draft picks and potentially move Jakob Poeltl or Immanuel Quickley. Moving Jakob feels like selling a very reliable station wagon. It is not flashy, it smells a bit like old coffee, but it gets you to the grocery store every single time.
Quickley is a different story altogether. He provides the kind of energy I usually only get after three espressos and a direct threat from my landlord. Putting him in a trade for a center feels risky (like trying to fix a leaky faucet by replacing the front door). Sabonis is great, he passes the ball like he's trying to solve a complex math equation in real time, but you have to wonder what the perimeter will look like without our steady hands.
Searching for the Middle Ground
Some people are asking for Myles Turner instead. He blocks shots and hits threes, which is a very modern way to live. Others want a smaller move for a role player (the basketball equivalent of buying a nice pair of socks because you can't afford a new suit). It all feels very frantic for a Tuesday afternoon in February.
My uncle says we should just keep everyone because "continuity is a virtue," but he also thinks the three point line was a mistake. I am not sure where I land. Sabonis is a triple double threat, which is nice, but I will miss Ochai Agbaji's defensive stance. It was very wide and very committed.
At the end of the day, basketball is just about moving a ball through a hoop. We complicate it with salaries and draft protections and SLAM magazine covers. Tomorrow the sun will come up, the 401 will be backed up, and we might have a new center who grabs fifteen rebounds a game. Or we might not. Both options feel equally likely and equally exhausting.