Raptors: Toronto needs to be aggressive to compete in the East

The Toronto Raptors have had a bit of a struggle this season trying to stay relevant in an NBA Eastern Conference that has changed dramatically in just one year. At this time last season, the Raptors were coming off of a 15 game winning streak, and had it been a full 82 game schedule may have won 60 games for the first time in their history.

As it is, they have five consecutive seasons of 50 plus wins in jeopardy this season. They are also at risk of missing the playoffs for the first time in eight years. However, with a record of 12 wins and 13 losses, the Raptors hold the fifth playoff position and are just 6 games out of first overall. The Eastern Conference is wide open.

The Raptors are a stretch of good play, like their 15 game winning streak last season, away from being in the top four in the East. It would not necessarily take that big of an effort to get back to the conference’s top, but the team needs help to get there. However, management has done little to push or secure their run of successful seasons to eight.

There is no one in the NBA’s Eastern Conference dominating the way Toronto and the Milwaukee Bucks did last year. Toronto does have an opportunity to own the conference, however. After a horrible start, the team is playing better, epitomized by a win against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

As far as roster movement, Alex Len’s waiving does open a roster spot and perhaps clears cap space to guarantee the contract of a player like Yuta Watanabe. Moving Malachi Flynn to Raptors 905 makes sense for player development needs.

However, with OG Anunoby missing from the lineup with a calf strain since January 31st and now Lowry leaving a recent victory over the Memphis Grizzlies early due to back spasms, the roster needs a boost. With the trade deadline a little over a month away, the time is now to make a move.

The arms race in the East so far excludes the Toronto Raptors

Teams in the Eastern Conference have been loading up their rosters. Yet, the Raptors remain silent. The New York Knicks recently moved Dennis Smith Jr. to the Detroit Pistons for Derrick Rose in a trade. 

The New Jersey Nets already had a returning Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant from injury, and they went for a blockbuster deal involving multiple teams to acquire James Harden.

Other Eastern Conference teams have improved over last season. Toronto is the one team that has significantly taken a step backward. Rumors are swirling around the team. The most recent is linking them to Andre Drummond.

A deal for Drummond, a true center, would be a major upgrade to Aron Baynes, who has struggled in the role as a starter for Toronto. Drummond is averaging over 18 points and 14 rebounds per game.

There are also rumors about Kyle Lowry, who has apparently listed his Toronto home on the real estate market. For the record, Lowry is a free agent at the end of this year anyway, so whether it’s a trade on or before the March 25th, 2021 deadline or in free agency, Lowry may not be linked to Toronto much longer.

While Lowry is a fan favorite in Toronto and a near living legend, he is a $30 million expiring contract that could be dealt to restock the Raptors’ roster.

Could the Raptors sign some veteran free agents?

Management for the Raptors might be concerned about adding salary that could limit financial flexibility this coming off-season or about giving away assets for rentals or overpriced players. There is a list of free agents who have been unsigned since the season began who could help boost the roster.

Kyle Korver is an older shooting guard who has played in 16 NBA seasons and 145 playoff games. At the age of 38, he played 58 games on the best team in the East last season, averaging 16.6 minutes and 6.7 points. He is a sharpshooting three-point specialist who has a career average of 42.9 percent. If the Raptors want more shooting, he’s the best in the business.

Korver ranks fourth overall in the NBA with 2,450 three-pointers made and signing him could block other Eastern Conference rivals from adding one of the deadliest shooters in the game today.

Tyson Chandler could help the Raptors like Korver, as he is a veteran with loads of experience. He also fills a huge need if he can still play, as he is a good defender and rim protector. A 19-year veteran and former NBA Champion (2011), he has career averages of 9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

Thon Maker is younger than the 37-year-old Chandler, but would provide the Raptors with size and a 7-3 wingspan. He would be another project who has never played more than 16.7 minutes per game during his sophomore season in 2017-18. Still, if Nurse gets his hands on him, he could become a solid backup big.

At point guard, Isaiah Thomas could provide the Raptors with a potent scorer off of the bench. He is another smallish guard at five-feet-nine inches, but he can light up a scoreboard. Thomas played in 40 games for the Washington Wizards last season. At age 30 years old, he averaged 12.2 points a game, and his three-point average was also 41.3 percent.

Regardless of who gets moved via trade or signed for the remainder of the season, the Raptors need to make a move. The team is right there. It requires a boost, a push to a winning streak, and this team will be where it was last season. The Raptors are one game back of Boston in fourth place and 2 games back of Brooklyn in third. The time is now for the Raptors to make a move.