Can the Raptors contend Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet at the helm?

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TORONTO, ON – MARCH 24: Pascal Siakam #43 and Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /

The New DeRozan & Lowry?

In the regular season, this is a compliment. In the postseason, not so much. With a bitter pain still in the hearts of Raptors faithful, the fan-favorite duo of Kyle Lowry & DeMar DeRozan continually came up short in the playoffs. After being swept for the second year in a row by the LeBron James-led Cavaliers, a change was needed.

While the move to acquire Kawhi Leonard in exchange for DeRozan came with great scrutiny, the banner that hangs in Scotiabank Arena is a reminder of the great success that followed this move.

With Siakam and VanVleet, rarely both performing well simultaneously, it makes fans of the game wonder if maybe another blockbuster trade will be needed for the future.

The Toronto Raptors have made significant moves in the past.

We have seen instant turnarounds before when making a blockbuster trade, so if the Raptors front office decides they need a change to truly contend, there is a non-zero chance that one of these two dynamos could be moved in exchange for a bigger prize elsewhere.

Trades of this magnitude are incredibly risky, however. Past deals in the NBA have demonstrated the total collapse they can trigger. DeRozan and Lowry were given five seasons to lead the Raptors before the trade. If Siakam and VanVleet are to have a fair crack at leading this team deep into the playoffs, they may only get a few more chances.