The NBA is always progressing. With that being said, sometimes, it’s hard to know exactly which direction it’s heading in.

In 2022, we’re officially in the era of small ball. At least, we thought we were. Last season, the three leading MVP candidates were Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo. None of those men could be accurately described as “small”.

Are we in the big ball era? Not exactly. Centers will always have a place in the NBA, but realistically, Antetokounmpo represents the most predominant star player archetype in today’s game. We’re in the era of big, playmaking wings.

The Toronto Raptors are well aware of that fact. Last year, they ran several lineups that featured multiple players who fit that description.

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It made for an enjoyable brand of basketball, but at the same time, it sometimes felt like maybe the Raps could use a more conventional big man.

Here’s a deal that lands them Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers.