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Toronto Raptors: 3 holes to fill at NBA Trade Deadline

By Jack Long

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 22: Toronto Raptors General Manager Bobby Webster (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 22: Toronto Raptors General Manager Bobby Webster (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Raptors are currently sitting 4th in the Eastern Conference standings with a .500 record. With impressive wins against the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers over their last few games, it’s no surprise the Raptors faithful are starting to look at this team and thinking “why not?”.

The fact that a .500 record can land you in the upper echelon of the East truly shows you how wide open this conference. However, Toronto has beat every organization currently seated above them.

Sights that used to be set on just making the playoffs now are looking towards a deep playoff run. If Nick Nurse, Bobby Webster, Masai Ujiri want to truly take on the big boys of the East, they can’t be content with what they got.

The Raptors might not have the skill and superstar talent that the Brooklyn Nets have, but this group has shown that chemistry and depth can beat any star-centered team. At the moment, there is no debating that this club havs some holes to fill if they are truly focused on a finals run. Let’s look at some additions they can make by March 25th.

The Raptors need to fill these 3 holes

TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 23: Joel Embiid shoots against Chris Boucher #25 and Aron Baynes #46 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 23: Joel Embiid shoots against Chris Boucher #25 and Aron Baynes #46 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Rebounding Center

Aron Baynes and Alex Len, they should be able to replace Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol right? The answer was a resounding no and one that has severely hurt the Raptors up to this point.

Len was shown the door fairly swiftly, while Baynes has stuck around for merely the fact that he is the sole true center remaining on this Raptors roster. Given his ineffectiveness on the offensive end, the Raptors are in need of an upgrade.

It is no secret that the Toronto Raptors are desolate at center

This team doesn’t even need a guy that has to put up major point totals. All the need is a competent big man that can move the Raptors out of the basement of every rebounding category. Any offensive skills they might be able to add is a bonus.

That is why the Andre Drummond rumors are so intriguing, as a guy who can give you 20-15 every night in points and rebounds respectively doesn’t become available everyday. Drummond would cost a lot, but he would plug up this hole.