Despite a flurry of player injuries, the Raptors remain firmly ensconced among the class of the Eastern Conference. Currently, they are seeded fourth with a 23-11 record.
If one were to project this present winning percentage across an 82-game schedule, Toronto would win 55 contests. Not bad for a team already missing its best player from the season prior.
Five of the Raptors’ top eight players in minutes logged per game this season (All-Star level studs Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam, plus starters Marc Gasol and Norman Powell and integral reserve Serge Ibaka) have been lost to various maladies for at least nine games each, as we have noted previously on Hoops Rumors.
The ascent of Siakam to two-way superstar status, when healthy, has been a boon to the Raptors’ terrific start to 2019/20. 33-year-old Lowry’s ability to help shoulder more of the offensive burden left by departed fun guy Kawhi Leonard, along with the rise of Fred VanVleet as a major scorer, have helped plenty, too.
Provided Siakam doesn’t miss too much more time with his stretched groin injury, he and Lowry should both be All-Stars this season. The team’s various absences have doubled as showcases for young role players like OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Terence Davis to prove their mettle.
Assuming the team is healthy by spring, the Raptors’ depth, size and star power makes them a legitimate contender in the East in 2020, one year removed from winning it all. Or does it? Can they really best the Bucks, Celtics, or Sixers in a seven-game series? Teams like the Pacers and Heat have a realistic chance at advancing far, too. And do any of these teams have a chance against the two stacked Los Angeles squads or the Nuggets in a Finals series?
Before the season started, many pundits assumed Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri would tactfully rebuild his team, moving some of his solid veterans on good deals for future assets. Lowry has one season remaining this year; Gasol and Ibaka are both on expiring contracts.
The team has proven to be better than even some of the most devout occupants of Jurassic Park could have hoped. Should the Raptors blow it up? Or should they move some of their intriguing youth for a bit more veteran help ahead of another playoff push? The team will probably strive to avoid adding too many contracts that will extend beyond the 2020/21 season, as that summer promises to supply a stacked free agent class.
This writer believes that, barring some kind of collapse down the ranks ahead of the deadline, the Raptors should look to improve their team for 2020. The Raptors have bucked the odds to reach this point. Let them see this through. Though the Bucks, Lakers, and Clippers feel like the current cream of the crop in the NBA, the Raptors number among a host of talented squads nipping at their heels.
Should the Raptors be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline this season? Vote below in our poll, then head to the comment section to share your thoughts. We look forward to hearing from you!
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
acquire derozan
For who, Gasol?
Uhhh, why? He makes his team worse when he is in the floor. Raptors are trying to get better, not worse. If we were interested in nostalgia, we’d have signed Vince Carter 5 years ago
we?
Nonsense. DDR would help any contender…in the right role. Personally, I’d love to see him operate as a 6th man.
Not nonsense. Even during the end of his Raptors tenure up until now, DeRozan’s teams average better points for and points against per 100 possessions when DeRozan is not on the floor as opposed to when he is. He’s an inefficient scorer who can’t play defence. Don’t see how this helps any contender.
That’s why I said in the right role. The sample size you are talking about basically involves his Spurs tenure, and on a roster with little shooting DeMar is indeed somewhat of a liability. Surround him with a ton of shooters or bring him off the bench and it’s a different story.
And inefficient scorer? Do you even know what his current FG% is? Granted, his TS% numbers will never be great thanks to his lack of a 3P shot, but he’s still not an inefficient scorer as a result.
And ever team could use a microwave scorer like him that can get his own shot when the shot clock is running down or the offense would not be clicking.
Defending their title as an actual contender is worth more to this franchise (reputation, legitimacy, fan equity etc) than whatever marginal return you’d get for an expiring contract. A team doesn’t often get a victory lap – they need to ride this out (and respectfully – DeRozan doesn’t fit their current philosophy)
ridiculous to consider selling at this point
Uhhh buy….i guess?? As a celtics fan i have a tough time seeing them find an answer to Siakiam at the 4. Heyward has been admirable playing there so far this season. But when things slow down his overall lack of quickness will become blatant, and if your not burning the other guy on offense using said quickness then all you have is paltry rebounding and an over matched defender. Plus they can throw gasol and OG at you as well oh yeah ibaka too. I could see the bucks having similar issues. The sixers have the bodies to do it, as does a healthy pacers squad (well atleast give them a run for their money). Matchup wise, i like their chances against most of the upper echelon of the east, and if the young and enigmatic 76ers are you main obstacle then yeah make a move and add. But that may not even be needed to get past the 76ers, however to be safe they probably should add a significant wing player or glue guy. But dang does this team just scream sellers lolols
They can let the Sixers beat their playoff rivals then beat the Sixers.
No, no sell-off. Be my biggest miss!
(MIN will come back & I reversed on DET in the runup based on Griffin’s fitness.)
Philly isn’t knocking out Boston, and definitely not the Bucks.
That is the Sixers are definitely not getting past the Bucks, in fact they’ll probably lose to the Pacers in round 1.
Specially if Dipo is playing well and they don’t trade Turner
Let’s see how they finish. Philly needs time to become a cohesive unit. Now they are just dudes playing. LBJ Bosh Wade needed a year to put it together and that’s a HOF squad, these are just All Stars at this point. They need more shooting, but can’t afford to give up defensively. Buyout Market may be interesting this yr. Parsons, Teague, Turner (cant shoot but can play multiple positions), Crabbe, Favors, Marvin Williams, ET Moore could all be available. William’s and ET would be the best options in the same role they play for their current teams.
They can’t add the 50M in salaries next year that they lose with Gasol and Ibaka, and both players are on the downhill. So it makes a lot of sense to trade for future contracts. Need 2 parties to complete a trade, someone that is looking to get out if a deal, toxic asset, or is so enticed by your offer they’ll deal.
Kevin Love could be an option bc the contract and availability work. Dedmon fits their scheme. So does Buddy. DLo is available. DeRozan isn’t worth taking back, LMA would be nice. Bulls probably would dump Otto Porter. Magic seem poised to move on from Fournier and Gordon. Wolves could sell high on Wiggins.
I think only 5 or 6 teams are in Cap Hell next year and all will be contenders so, no one will be super anxious to offload from that pool.
Anyone see any other real viable player out there for this squad?
What about option 3: Stand pat.
They shouldn’t be looking for rental types (like DeRozan for example). The only reason to be “buyers” is if they’re acquiring someone who can help beyond this season (like a D’Lo type)
I agree. This isn’t a Finals-level team, but I don’t know if there is an option for them to become one this year at all. They should see if they can make the ECF this year, give Siakam a year of development, get some financial flexibility with Gasol and Ibaka coming off the book, and be aggressive this offseason.
When the walls fell.
Certainly not sellers if things (the standings) stay the way they are. Ujiri has only made a few in-season deals in Toronto (and was a seller maybe once/twice when they weren’t good). On the buy side, its unlikely that they”ll do a deal acquiring a Gasol or Ibaka type contract (were they’re taking on extra years), and I don’t think they’ll want to deal their 1st. Doesn’t leave much, but maybe a small another shooter for a 2nd or two.
As a couple others mentioned, they should stand pat, neither buying or selling.
1. There are no logical “selling” trades out there (I.e. Lowry/Gasol/Ibaka for picks and/or young prospects)
2. There aren’t many, if any, marginal upgrades worthwhile (I.e. whichever bogdanovic is available this year)
3. The most logical “buy” candidate was Beal, but he can’t be traded this season
4. They haven’t had their own first rounder since OG in 2017. Trading picks every year tends to lead to diminishing returns eventually (I.e. Miami in 2014)
5. They want and should preserve their cap space for 2021.
I don’t think they be buyers or sellers. Masai Ujiri will play the waiting game. If a really good offer comes he’ll go for it. If not just let this team chemistry build up. They don’t have a team to win it all, but have a team to be competitive.