The Toronto Raptors have been linked to former All-Star point guard Ja Morant on the trade market this season. While swinging for upside is the kind of move that has worked for the Raptors in the past, trading for Morant would be a disaster that would torpedo their present and their future.
When NBA trades take place, they almost always fit a basic paradigm: one team is making a move focused on winning games in the present, while the other team is sacrificing their ability to win games in the present in order to increase their chances of winning games in the future.