Wiliams III to Raptors, Brown to Pistons, Boucher to Rockets: Pistons/Raptors/Blazers/Rockets

[Bentley1225]

Ill offer this idea for:
-Raptors to get a backup big as move on from Brown and Boucher
-Pistons create more off-season flexibility by getting out of Fontecchio deal
-Rockets get a younger frontcourt piece still in his prime to provide more quality depth for playoff run
-Blazers clear up glut of bigs and get 3 2nds for RW III plus a rotational wing

To Toronto (Trade Brown, Boucher, Temple, 2nd)
-Tim Hardaway Jr. (1 year, $16.1 million)
-Jeff Green (1 year, $8 million) - buyout/waive to join a contender for minimum
-Robert Williams III (2 years, $25.7 million)

To Detroit (Trade THJ, Fontecchio, 2nd)
-Bruce Brown (1 year, $23 million)
-Garrett Temple (1 year, $2 million)

To Houston (Trade Green, 2nd)
-Chris Boucher (1 year, $10.8 million)

To Portland (Trade Williams III)
-Simone Fontecchio (2 years, $16 million)
-2026 Dallas 2nd round pick via Houston
-2028 Toronto 2nd round pick
-2030 Minnesota 2nd round pick via Detroit

Why?
-The Raptors get a backup 5 in Williams as he expires along with Olynyk in summer of 2026.
-The Pistons create more off-season flexibility in getting off the $8 million owed to Fontecchio
-The rockets get younger in frontcoiurt short term in swapping Green for Boucher who is 6 years younger
-The Blazers get 3 2nds for Williams III in taking back Fontecchio

[tester551]

This works for this Blazer fan.

[JRoy]

Fonzie is playable and 3 SRP works.

[Bentley1225]

Fonzie is playable and 3 SRP works.

Oh my, I might have gotten JRoy to respond favourably to a OP involving PDX!!!!!. I’m batting 1 for 86 on that front now.

All jokes aside, appreciate your educated feedback.

[OutsidetheNBA]

Great from the Blazers perspective.

Why do the Raptors want Williams? Olynyk is already a backup 5 and they have Poetl. Think they'd be fine with a minimum guy or a 2nd round pick as their 5th big.

Interested to see what Pistons fans think of Brown. I think he'd be an intriguing fit, but I think a lot of people have soured on Brown since his Nuggets days.

[Bentley1225]

Great from the Blazers perspective.

Why do the Raptors want Williams? Olynyk is already a backup 5 and they have Poetl. Think they'd be fine with a minimum guy or a 2nd round pick as their 5th big.

Interested to see what Pistons fans think of Brown. I think he'd be an intriguing fit, but I think a lot of people have soured on Brown since his Nuggets days.

Olynyk is better served as a 4 now given his ability to stretch floor and his age now. Hes a fine compliment to RWIII in frontcourt off bench. The Raptors likely won’t dip much into free agency this summer. They could draft a PG in 1st round to replace Mitchell, draft perhaps a wing with their 2nd and fill out roster with 1-2 veteran minimum guys.

25-26 Raptors

Quickley/?/Shead
Dick/Walter/?
Barrett/Agbaji/?
Barnes/Olynyk/?
Poeltl/Williams/Mogbo

[OutsidetheNBA]

Great from the Blazers perspective.

Why do the Raptors want Williams? Olynyk is already a backup 5 and they have Poetl. Think they'd be fine with a minimum guy or a 2nd round pick as their 5th big.

Interested to see what Pistons fans think of Brown. I think he'd be an intriguing fit, but I think a lot of people have soured on Brown since his Nuggets days.

Olynyk is better served as a 4 now given his ability to stretch floor and his age now. Hes a fine compliment to RWIII in frontcourt off bench. The Raptors likely won’t dip much into free agency this summer. They could draft a PG in 1st round to replace Mitchell, draft perhaps a wing with their 2nd and fill out roster with 1-2 veteran minimum guys.

25-26 Raptors

Quickley/?/Shead
Dick/Walter/?
Barrett/Agbaji/?
Barnes/Olynyk/?
Poeltl/Williams/Mogbo

I can't get a good sense of what the Raptors are trying to achieve in the short or long term, but if it's me I just hold onto the 2nd and hope I can resign Boucher or sign another vet Center for a minimum or near minimum deal.

[JRoy]

Great from the Blazers perspective.

Why do the Raptors want Williams? Olynyk is already a backup 5 and they have Poetl. Think they'd be fine with a minimum guy or a 2nd round pick as their 5th big.

Interested to see what Pistons fans think of Brown. I think he'd be an intriguing fit, but I think a lot of people have soured on Brown since his Nuggets days.

I don’t think it’s his play so much as his salary.

[Thaddy]

Toronto is rebuilding they aren't giving up picks in a picks starved league.

[Bentley1225]

Great from the Blazers perspective.

Why do the Raptors want Williams? Olynyk is already a backup 5 and they have Poetl. Think they'd be fine with a minimum guy or a 2nd round pick as their 5th big.

Interested to see what Pistons fans think of Brown. I think he'd be an intriguing fit, but I think a lot of people have soured on Brown since his Nuggets days.

Olynyk is better served as a 4 now given his ability to stretch floor and his age now. Hes a fine compliment to RWIII in frontcourt off bench. The Raptors likely won’t dip much into free agency this summer. They could draft a PG in 1st round to replace Mitchell, draft perhaps a wing with their 2nd and fill out roster with 1-2 veteran minimum guys.

25-26 Raptors

Quickley/?/Shead
Dick/Walter/?
Barrett/Agbaji/?
Barnes/Olynyk/?
Poeltl/Williams/Mogbo

I can't get a good sense of what the Raptors are trying to achieve in the short or long term, but if it's me I just hold onto the 2nd and hope I can resign Boucher or sign another vet Center for a minimum or near minimum deal.

Boucher, the way he is playing will likely get a multi year offer this summer in free agency for exemption based money. Raptors are better off using a 2nd to land a younger frontcourt piece with 1 year remaining to coincide with Olynyk expiring than extend Boucher on a 3 year, $30-42 million deal.

I think the Raptors are going to focus on continuity and developing a starting 5 instead of trying to make any major deals this summer.

[Kalamazoo317]

No thanks from the Pistons. Brown is fine but if we are moving THJ and disrupting team chemistry, it needs to be for a better return.

[Bentley1225]

Toronto is rebuilding they aren't giving up picks in a picks starved league.

A 2028 2nd isn’t going to drastically alter what Raptors are trying to do. They arguably are starting to turn corner and could be starting to compete for a playoff spot next season.

[Bentley1225]

No thanks from the Pistons. Brown is fine but if we are moving THJ and disrupting team chemistry, it needs to be for a better return.

But you still maintain immediate cap room if you still want to add someone at trade deadline and $8 million off books for summer allows you to front end your spend in free agency.

[Thaddy]

Toronto is rebuilding they aren't giving up picks in a picks starved league.

A 2028 2nd isn’t going to drastically alter what Raptors are trying to do. They arguably are starting to turn corner and could be starting to compete for a playoff spot next season.

Check the talent they've accumulated from 2nd rounders. Yes it does.

[Bentley1225]

Toronto is rebuilding they aren't giving up picks in a picks starved league.

A 2028 2nd isn’t going to drastically alter what Raptors are trying to do. They arguably are starting to turn corner and could be starting to compete for a playoff spot next season.

Check the talent they've accumulated from 2nd rounders. Yes it does.

So you value a 2028 2nd more than Robert Williams III?, ok….

[Thaddy]

A 2028 2nd isn’t going to drastically alter what Raptors are trying to do. They arguably are starting to turn corner and could be starting to compete for a playoff spot next season.

Check the talent they've accumulated from 2nd rounders. Yes it does.

So you value a 2028 2nd more than Robert Williams III?, ok….

Yeah he's often injured and isn't a difference maker.

[OutsidetheNBA]

A 2028 2nd isn’t going to drastically alter what Raptors are trying to do. They arguably are starting to turn corner and could be starting to compete for a playoff spot next season.

Check the talent they've accumulated from 2nd rounders. Yes it does.

So you value a 2028 2nd more than Robert Williams III?, ok….

For Toronto, a rebuilding team that is close to the tax and already has a passable backup Center -- yes, I personally think the '28 2nd is more valuable and I wouldn't make this trade. Toronto should just sign Alex Len or Thomas Bryant or someone similar to be their 3rd Center.

For some other team that's actually competing and desperately needs a backup Center? RWIII is worth 2nds depending on the outgoing salary.

[Bentley1225]

Check the talent they've accumulated from 2nd rounders. Yes it does.

So you value a 2028 2nd more than Robert Williams III?, ok….

For Toronto, a rebuilding team that is close to the tax and already has a passable backup Center -- yes, I personally think the '28 2nd is more valuable and I wouldn't make this trade. Toronto should just sign Alex Len or Thomas Bryant or someone similar to be their 3rd Center.

For some other team that's actually competing and desperately needs a backup Center? RWIII is worth 2nds depending on the outgoing salary.

There are no guarantees the Raptors re-sign Boucher unless he takes a 1 year deal. The genesis of this idea is based on the fact he wants a 3 year, $30-42 million deal this summer which makes no makes sense for an apparent rebuilding team. Having 1 year rotational pieces does. Ultimately, the Raptors could kick the can down the line and offer Blazers their 2031 2nd instead of 2028 if they care about maintaining draft cupboard for next 5 drafts.

For a front office that gave up a 1st for Thad Young, I don’t think they’re going to balk at dealing a distant 2nd for RWIII

[OutsidetheNBA]

So you value a 2028 2nd more than Robert Williams III?, ok….

For Toronto, a rebuilding team that is close to the tax and already has a passable backup Center -- yes, I personally think the '28 2nd is more valuable and I wouldn't make this trade. Toronto should just sign Alex Len or Thomas Bryant or someone similar to be their 3rd Center.

For some other team that's actually competing and desperately needs a backup Center? RWIII is worth 2nds depending on the outgoing salary.

There are no guarantees the Raptors re-sign Boucher unless he takes a 1 year deal. The genesis of this idea is based on the fact he wants a 3 year, $30-42 million deal this summer which makes no makes sense for an apparent rebuilding team. Having 1 year rotational pieces does. Ultimately, the Raptors could kick the can down the line and offer Blazers their 2031 2nd instead of 2028 if they care about maintaining draft cupboard for next 5 drafts.

For a front office that gave up a 1st for Thad Young, I don’t think they’re going to balk at dealing a distant 2nd for RWIII

This is a list of UFA Centers next offseason: https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2025/position/c/type/ufa/sort/contract_value . Doesn't even include a couple of team option guys who will get declined. Boucher is one option, but there are about 10 others who will sign at or near the minimum.

It doesn't make sense for the rebuilding Ratprs to send a 2nd to pay a back-up Center $11m when they're already paying Olynyk $13m and he's fine to play some backup 5 along with Mogbo.

I'm a Blazer fan and I'm naturally biased so I agree RWIII is worth 2nds to the right team, but the Raptors aren't the right team.

[Kalamazoo317]

No thanks from the Pistons. Brown is fine but if we are moving THJ and disrupting team chemistry, it needs to be for a better return.

But you still maintain immediate cap room if you still want to add someone at trade deadline and $8 million off books for summer allows you to front end your spend in free agency.

If just getting off of Tech’s cap hit for next season is the goal, I’m sure there are less disruptive ways. I just don’t value Brown over THJ for this season