After acquiring Serge Ibaka last week, the Raptors remain in the market for help on the wing, having been linked to P.J. Tucker. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein (via Twitter), Toronto has also pursued Wilson Chandler. The Nuggets would want a first-round pick back for their veteran forward, Stein notes.
Chandler would likely come at a higher cost than Tucker, both in terms of trade cost and salary — Chandler is earning more than twice as much as Tucker this season ($11.23MM vs. $5.3MM). The Nuggets forward has been far more effective on offense this season though, averaging 15.6 PPG in 50 games.
In addition to considering whether Chandler is worth a first-round pick, the Raptors would also have to mull whether or not his multiyear deal fits into the team’s cap outlook. With Kyle Lowry and Ibaka both in line for lucrative new contracts this summer, the Raptors already project to go into luxury-tax territory if they re-sign both of those players, so adding another eight-digit salary like Chandler’s may not be viable. Tucker, conversely, is on an expiring deal.
In addition to the Raptors, both the Clippers and Thunder have been linked to Chandler, though Oklahoma City is believed to be prioritizing him. A report this morning indicated that Denver would be happy to keep Chandler and make a push for the playoffs with him if the club’s asking price isn’t met.
Never understood why James Johnson wasn’t given more playing time in Toronto. Look what he’s doing now.