NBA Trade Rumors: Top 3 Trade Targets For Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors have fallen into a slump after a tremendous run that took them all the way into the 2-seed in the Eastern Conference. With five losses in six games, they've fallen to 15-10, and a slim edge for 4th place in the East. They'll be looking for some help on the trade market to boost their sagging fortunes.

Granted, they've gone into this recent swoon without one of their top offensive weapons in RJ Barrett. He's missed the last eight games, and his nearly 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game have been sorely missed.

But when the front office gets around to looking for reinforcements on the trade market, these three targets have been proposed as solid fits, per Dan Favale of Bleacher Report.

Keon Ellis

The Sacramento Kings' scappy two-way guard, known for his elite perimeter defense and ability to spread the floor, would be a perfect fit off the bench for Toronto. Ellis is known to be generating trade interest, and the Kings are listening.

"As frisky as the Raptors are, they don't have too many players who can stroke threes in volume and defend their butts off," like Ellis can. Ja'Kobe Walter is the closest facsimile, but he hasn't shown the consistency yet to be relied on to the same extent that Ellis has over the last three years.

Ellis is a rental, however, as he's headed for free agency after the season. But bringing him in gives the Raptors a leg up on the competition to sell him on the exciting young program they've got, and his fit within it.

Day'Ron Sharpe

The Brooklyn Nets' physical big man with tons of energy crashes the glass with gusto, and makes a significant impact through second-chance points with his elite offensive rebounding and passing skills. At 6'10", 265 pounds, he would bring another solid big to the core group. He also comes at a very cheap price, with a team option for next year at $6.25 million.

Goga Bitadze

"Beefing up the paint protection behind Jakob Poeltl is a must for the Toronto Raptors," writes Favale, following up on the Sharpe suggestion. "They're basically loaded with 4s and not-quite-5s behind him, including (the gloriously entertaining) Sandro Mamukelashvili." Bitadze is another option if they can't land Sharpe, but the Orlando Magic might value him too much to trade him, Favale notes.