Raptors Rapture
Fansided

Toronto Raptors: The case for a ‘quiet’ trade deadline

By Jordan Skuse

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors celebrates in the locker room after winning Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors celebrates in the locker room after winning Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri, along with GM Bobby Webster, talk to ESPN's Zach Lowe
Toronto Raptors – Masai Ujiri (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Toronto Raptors have every intention of winning a second championship in 2019-20, but how they’ll go about doing so, mere days away from the trade deadline, is unclear.

Not long ago, Toronto Raptors president, Masai Ujiri, was asked a straightforward question – “Can [Toronto] win again this year?” – “We’re gonna die trying, that’s for sure,” was Ujiri’s response.

In other words, he likes his team’s chances.

[watch the interview here]

Both Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster understand what goes into winning a title, they lived it last year. Among other things, championship journeys are littered with tough decisions. Ujiri and Webster had plenty to make in Toronto’s title run– around this time last year, the Raptors traded beloved big man Jonas Valanciunas *tear*, Delon Wright (meh) and C.J. Miles (double meh) to the Memphis Grizzlies, in exchange for Marc Gasol. It couldn’t have been easy pulling the trigger on that deal, knowing how much JV meant to the organization.

Before the deadline deal, there was a little summer blockbuster involving DeMar DeRozan and Kawhi Leonard. Jakob Poetl and Danny Green had cameos. Again, not an easy decision to make if you’re Toronto’s front office; Ujiri has stated time and time again trading DeMar was one of the most difficult moments of his life

Finally, before all the trades had taken place, Ujiri had decided that time was up on Dwane Casey, firing the NBA’s reigning coach of the year after another disappointing playoff exit.

To use a hockey phrase, that’s a hat-trick of tough decisions.

It all worked out in the end, didn’t it?

As the 2020 trade deadline approaches, the Toronto Raptors are going to be faced with plenty of tough decisions – are Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka being overworked? Should they acquire another big? Is it time to sell high on Norman Powell? Or, maybe…the champs do nothing at all.

There’s a good chance that February 6th comes and goes, and Toronto stays the same.

The above declaration by Ujiri is a commendable one. I too am of the opinion that this team, as it’s presently constructed, is capable of winning another title. And that’s precisely why Toronto shouldn’t feel pressure to make a move on or before the 6th of February.

Here are three reasons why the defending champions should adopt a cautious approach to this season’s trade deadline:

Home/Raptors News