Toronto Raptors: Mailbag questions, including possible trade targets

The Toronto Raptors are in first place nearly halfway through the season. We decided to take your best questions in this week’s Raptors Mailbag.

The Toronto Raptors have been adjusting to a new roster, shot the ball poorly, and have been injured all season. Still, 36 games in, they’re sitting atop the NBA, first place in both the Eastern Conference and in the league at large.

Nearly halfway through the season, I gathered the best questions from Facebook/Twitter and gave my thoughts:

 @dbhoops_: 3 point shooting or rebounding, do you see Masai addressing any of these issues at the trade deadline?

I’ll answer this in two parts.

Rebounding: Most likely no. To seriously address rebounding, Toronto would need to target either a center or powerforward. Center is occupied by Serge Ibaka who is not receiving a downgrade in playing time anytime soon and Jonas Valanciunas who rebounds exceptionally well. Powerforward is occupied by young studs OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam. Toronto seems committed to playing small in the frontcourt. Playing small has its benefits. It also has its downsides. Rebounding is likely an issue Toronto will just need to deal with all season and rely on internal development rather than an outside force.

Shooting: Position by position, Toronto should have an above-average shooting team. Unfortunately, many of their players are shooting at or below their previous career-low. The Raptors shouldn’t be shooting as poorly as they are this season, and the law of averages suggests they will turn it around. Still, if the right offer presented itself, I don’t think Masai would turn down an opportunity to flip one of the team’s struggling options.

@RyanMagdziarz: I feel like you guys all of a sudden have the best crowd/ atmosphere for home games in the entire league. Do you feel that and if so, why is that?

I’m not arrogant enough to be certain Toronto has the best atmosphere in the NBA. Golden State has declined since they became Silicon Valley’s new trendy event but is still electric, Boston and Los Angeles have a historical feel which Toronto can’t match, and Philadelphia is excellent if you want to teach your children the deepest ends of profanity.

However, there is no doubt the Raptors have a quickly risen to one of the best fan bases in the entire NBA. The reason is as simple as you would imagine. The Raptors have an entire country behind them. Canada has a population more than 4X as large as New York City and the majority of them are Raptors’ fans. The slogan “We the North” was marketing brilliance and whoever invented it should receive a FAT check.

@Jake_hagen21: Odds of a biz reunion to fortify bench bigs?

Less than one percent. Zero percent. Perhaps less than zero percent.  I’m asked this question semi-frequently by Raptors fans, and I am shocked to believe ANYONE on this earth thinks it’s a good idea to bring in Bismack Biyombo on a contract which pays $17 million per season.

If you don’t want to pay Biyombo $17 million — which absolutely no one does/should — he would need to be bought out by the Charlotte Hornets. With one year remaining on his contract, that doesn’t make sense. (Technically the last year of his deal is a player option, but I can assure you of three things that have a 100% chance of happening over the next year: The Game of Thrones ending upsets a large amount of people on Twitter, Ariana Grande goes through another public breakup, and Bismack Biyombo accepts that $17 million option).

@KawhiFadaway: If Kawhi leaves what do you see us doing with Lowry? If it’s a trade then what do you think we could get in return?

Such a negative mindset. Toronto has the best record in the NBA, and this is what you want to focus on?! Fine, the question is actually something I have thought about. If Kawhi leaves, Lowry and Ibaka both are probably out the door. This version of the Raptors as we know it is likely done.

The problem with trading Lowry is that it is difficult to find a contender who needs a point guard and has $30 million in space or dead-money to send back. With so much money set to expire in 2020 — after the horrendous signings of 2016– Toronto will likely receive less than you think but also no additional financial burden past 2020. I’d say a youngish prospect and lottery protected first, similar to what Toronto gave up for Ibaka.

@brettcorbett: This trade. I love that Norm is making a comeback, but to bolster the bench with shooting and rebounding.

Toronto Raptors receive: Courtney Lee, Justin Holiday, Bobby Portis

Chicago Bulls receive: Norman Powell

New York Knicks receive: C.J. Miles, Malachi Richardson

The Knicks get a little salary cap relief, however, Courtney Lee still probably is easier to move than C.J. Miles, so I don’t think they’d make this move although it is close.

However, the real reason this trade would never happen is the Chicago Bulls would hang up before you even said the words, Norman Powell. At this point in time, Powell has to be considered a negative asset. Who wants to sign-up for paying Powell $10 million per year until 2022? Now, I’m supposed to believe they would give up a legitimate asset in Bobby Portis? Raptor fans need to be more realistic in assessing Powell’s value.