Toronto Raptors offseason roundtable: Best move, worst move, and what’s still to come

How much different will this team look after the trade deadline?

Mike Bossetti

I’d guess one of the three “Aging Core” players is moved by the end of the next deadline, possibly two. The Raptors are probably going to be too good for a full-fledged, lottery-bound rebuild, but Masai Ujiri is too practical to not make a move if one presents itself.

Thomas Valentine

I suppose it really depends on the record. If things have gone a bit south then maybe the front office starts to look at those expiring deals and decides to get some value out of them before it’s too late.

Alternatively, it might be a case of the Raptors are gunning for homecourt and have a good balance, who knows?

Vimal Sivakumar

I think this is heavily dependent on the personal wishes of the Raptors’ veterans in Lowry, Ibaka, and Gasol (all of whom are on expiring deals). Gasol and Ibaka have only been here for a year or two respectively, they may have little reason to really want to stay with Toronto – a likely middling team this season – in favour of going to a contender. However, Lowry has been here for seven years and may want to finish his career here, influenced partly by the roots he has laid here for his family since 2012.

This Raptors team could look very different at the deadline in 2020, but that may depend largely on the personal wishes of the team’s current veterans.

William Ricks

I think this team will look slightly different after the trade deadline. If Toronto gets off to a tough start, they might be looking to sell and acquire picks. On the opposite end of the spectrum, they could be looking to gain another impact piece for that playoff push at the end of the year.