In recent weeks, the concept of the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers striking a deal before the NBA trade deadline was foreign, especially since both teams are primed to make serious postseason runs this spring.
However, a mid-afternoon Wednesday saw Toronto deal Malachi Richardson, a 2022 Second-Round pick, and the draft rights to Emir Preldzic in exchange for cash considerations just 24 hours before the deadline.
While the assets in this trade won’t make much of an impact for either team, especially come April, it does benefit Richardson himself. Toronto’s versatile, guard-heavy roster of Kyle Lowry, Fred Vanvleet, Delon Wright, Danny Green, and a surging Norman Powell left Richardson in an unchangeable, intermediate state during his year-and-a-half split between Toronto and their G-League affiliate in Mississauga.