Raptors hold the keys to a busy trade deadline

The realities of the new collective bargaining agreement have firmly set in. Multiple second-apron luxury tax teams are hamstrung as we head toward the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Yet, there's still a chance we see some big-name talents swap rosters. 

In order for those big-time trades to materialize, some of the NBA's cap-space teams will need to operate as a facilitator. Of course, those facilitating teams won't be helping out for free; they will likely want draft picks or expiring salaries in return. 

According to Jake Fischer, writing in Monday's edition of The Stein Line newsletter, the Toronto Raptors are expected to emerge as a willing partner in facilitating any potential deal.

"The Toronto Raptors, according to league sources, have also signaled a willingness to grease deals around the NBA before this upcoming trade deadline," Fischer reported. "...The Raptors are also $10.16 million under the tax, providing them ample wiggle room to match salaries. Toronto, too, still essentially has use of its full non-taxpayer midlevel exception to function as a valuable trade exception."

It's fair to assume that any big-time deal will likely be geared toward getting Jimmy Butler away from the Miami Heat. That could mean providing a new home for Bradley Beal or Pat Connaughton, depending on whether the Phoenix Suns or Milwaukee Bucks win the trade sweepstakes. Connaughton would be the easiest of the two veterans to acquire in terms of slotting into open cap space.

Regardless of which players move where, the Raptors have a pathway to earning some additional assets to help with their rebuild. If that means making another team stronger now, then so be it. After all, Toronto isn't expecting to be good for the foreseeable future. 

When zooming out a little, it's clear that multi-team trades could become more common moving forward. The new luxury-tax rules have made it harder for contending teams to pivot during the season, and that gives teams like Toronto some additional bargaining power. How those contending teams look to circumvent giving up too much in bigger trades will be an interesting wrinkle to watch moving forward.