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A bumper guide to the Toronto Raptors 2020 trade deadline

By Thomas Valentine

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 18: Kyle Lowry #7 and OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors hi-five during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 18, 2020 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 18: Kyle Lowry #7 and OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors hi-five during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 18, 2020 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

What do they need?

It’s hard to really say what exactly the Raptors need. They aren’t exactly a team who are desperate for upgrades, but imagine if they were to go out and make one more big move?

That would signal their intentions on making another run to the NBA Finals, just one year after winning their first-ever NBA title.

The Raptors have dealt with more injuries than just about every other team this season, but the fact they still sit with the third-best record in the NBA tells you a few things. It tells you that the Raptors have really, really good depth on the roster and that if this team gets any better, it could be dangerous.

Conversely, it probably tells you that the chemistry in the roster is pretty harmonious. Sometimes, you don’t want to mess with that. But, look at past situations. Masai Ujiri hasn’t been afraid to maneuver some chess pieces to win.

In terms of what they need, the one constant that sticks out for the Toronto Raptors is their rebounding – or frequently, their lack thereof. In raw rebound numbers, the Toronto Raptors rank 13th in the NBA – that’s fine. They rank 14th in field-goal attempts allowed per game, too. So those numbers can probably pair together quite well.

Or so you would think, the problems appear in the Raptors rebounding percentage numbers. They rank 26th in DREB% so far this season at 71.1-percent and also rank 26th in opponents OREB% at 28.9-percent. Fifth-worst in the league at both categories.

You could point to a lack of rebounding, and maybe to a lack of depth in the big man department. With Marc Gasol currently sidelined, the Raptors can only rely on Serge Ibaka and Chris Boucher (albeit to a lesser degree).

In reality, the Raptors aren’t crying out for much at all. But if the right players are available, then anything could happen.

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