The Toronto Raptors are currently mired in mediocrity, as their 17-19 record and league-average offense and defense will have them fighting for every inch as Kyle Lowry and company try to stave off the competition.
The Raptors are expected to be players at the deadline, as they could use the trade market to add some center to support Aron Baynes and a backup point guard that gives Lowry and Fred VanVleet some reprieve.
With Toronto a shell of the team that was consistently in the top half of the conference over the last few seasons, change will likely be sweeping through the Raptors at this deadline if they want remain in the postseason.
Masai Ujiri, Bobby Webster, and the front office will have to do some soul-searching if they want to craft a varied, flexible gameplan for attacking the trade deadline.
3 questions the Toronto Raptors must answer
Raptors question No. 1: Are draft picks expendable?
The Raptors only have control of two draft picks in the next two seasons, both of which are in the first round. While Ujiri has shown that he has had a masterful scouting eye due to the selections of OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam in the late first round, Malachi Flynn has proved what a crapshoot the latter parts of the draft can be.
Even with Flynn showing that he needs a lot of work before he can be trusted with regular minutes, the Raptors have been able to put the ball in the basket, largely due to the backcourt trio of Lowry, VanVleet, and Powell. With their draft pick potentially ending up outside the lottery again, that selection could be moved if they get a star.
The Raptors might deal draft picks if they get aggressive
The Raptors could add some protection to the deal, as doing so could end up giving Toronto their pick back if they end up in the lottery in the stacked 2021 class. Considering how shallow this roster can be, adding a pick or two in a trade might be the only way to entice potential sellers into doing a deal with them.
There is a chance that they could trade away the next Anunoby or Siakam down the line, but this is a team that is built to win and win now, so those picks could be deemed unnecessary if Ujiri wants to get a trade done.
Raptors question No. 2: What price is too high for a rebounding big man?
If there has been one constant with regard to the Raptors this season, it’s the fact that their post game has been severely lacking, as Baynes is showing the Raptors just how valuable Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka were to their identity on both sides of the floor.
The Raptors have been linked to several star big men, as the Cleveland Cavaliers could part with both Larry Nance Jr. and Andre Drummond this offseason, but they won’t come cheap. This will be a good litmus test to see how aggressive and proactive Ujiri wants to be in order to remake this roster.
The Raptors need someone who can bring down rebounds
The Cavaliers have yet to get a deal worked out for Drummond, and their asking price for Nance is simply astronomical. The Raptors can’t let Baynes and Siakam serve as their centers for the rest of the season, so they need to make an upgrade in some form or fashion.
Ujiri might need to hold his nose while surrendering more assets than necessary, but some of these trade targets might not be able to be acquired when the offseason rolls around. Either Nurse and the Raptors stick with their small-ball lineup, a strategy that looks incredibly risky, or Ujiri decided to seize the day and grab a big.
Raptors question No. 3: Can Kyle Lowry be traded?
Trading a point guard that is still a threat to pick up a triple-double every night might be an odd decision for a team that is trying to win, but those interested in reading tea leaves can see that Lowry is either angling for a trade or interesting in leaving as a free agent this offseason.
Lowry might be 35, but he is still averaging 18 points and 7 assists per game, making him an invaluable asset to any contending team.
What will it take for the Raptors to trade Kyle Lowry?
Lowry might be able to net a package of draft picks, veterans on expiring contracts, and promising young players, like Philadelphia 76ers rookie Tyrese Maxey, in a potential deal. If the Raptors are comfortable with moving VanVleet to point guard full-time, a trade could end up materializing.
Lowry is one of the greatest players in franchise history, a future Hall of Famer, and one of the best two-way point guards in the league today. If he truly wants out of Toronto, one has to believe that Ujiri will grant his request and get him somewhere where he could have a greater chance of winning a title.