The Toronto Raptors weren’t supposed to be this good. Slaughtered by injuries across the championship core, there was every chance the team could have sank and been forced into the role of sellers at the trade deadline.
After all, Marc Gasol is turning 35 and on an expiring contract, soon-to-be 34-year-old Kyle Lowry was deemed to be more tradeable by analysts after signing a one-year extension, and Serge Ibaka, 30, is on the final year of his deal. If the team was out of the picture for home-court advantage, the perspective of win-now would have shifted to win-later and securing some kind of return for two very capable players would have been first on the agenda.
But the Raptors kept swimming against the undercurrent, and now are powering through with momentum on their side. At 32-14, they're tied for the fifth-best record in the league and are in position to secure the second seed in the East.
They don’t necessarily need to make a move, but here are five players they could be in play for:
The Toronto Raptors weren’t supposed to be this good. Slaughtered by injuries across the championship core, there was every chance the team could have sank and been forced into the role of sellers at the trade deadline.
After all, Marc Gasol is turning 35 and on an expiring contract, soon-to-be 34-year-old Kyle Lowry was deemed to be more tradeable by analysts after signing a one-year extension, and Serge Ibaka, 30, is on the final year of his deal. If the team was out of the picture for home-court advantage, the perspective of win-now would have shifted to win-later and securing some kind of return for two very capable players would have been first on the agenda.
But the Raptors kept swimming against the undercurrent, and now are powering through with momentum on their side. At 32-14, they're tied for the fifth-best record in the league and are in position to secure the second seed in the East.
They don’t necessarily need to make a move, but here are five players they could be in play for:
Danilo Gallinari
2019-20 season stats: 19.2 PTS, 5.8 REB, 2.2 AST, 41.2% 3PT
Why?
While Toronto has remained an elite defensive team, they could use another player on the wing who can create their own shot when the game slows down. Oh, and Gallinari’s been a lights-out three-point shooter at 38 percent for his career as well. That helps too.
Why not?
Oklahoma City has exceeded expectations this season and might not be willing to part with a big part of their offence without receiving something significant in return.
How?
TOR sends Serge Ibaka, Norman Powell, and Malcolm Miller to OKC for Danilo Gallinari, Nerlens Noel, and Andre Roberson.
Evan Fournier
2019-20 season stats: 19.1 PTS, 2.6 REB, 3.3 AST, 41.2% 3PT
Why?
The Frenchman is someone who is battle tested in international competition, is still only 27-years-old, and is the type of player who can run an offence while possessing enough skill to create for himself. He’s unselfish, got a solid in-between game, and would certainly bolster Toronto’s bench.
Why not?
Norman Powell’s emergence makes you wonder whether this is necessarily even an upgrade. Fournier certainly can facilitate better but Powell’s bucket-getting ability as well as the chemistry he already has with the group as one of the young veterans can’t be ignored.
How?
TOR sends Norman Powell and Stanley Johnson to ORL for Evan Fournier.
Bogdan Bogdanovic
2019-20 season stats: 14.3 PTS, 3.0 REB, 3.6 AST, 37.6% 3PT
Why?
Like Gallinari, the Serb is a knockdown standstill shooter but he also has some of the playmaking that Fournier would bring to the table.
Why not?
Bogdanovic’s contract expires at the end of the season and so re-signing him in the summer would mean denting the cap room Toronto has available in 2021 when multiple superstars will hit free agency.
How?
TOR sends Serge Ibaka and Patrick McCaw to SAC for Bogdan Bogdanovic and Dewayne Dedmon.
Robert Covington
2019-20 season stats: 12.7 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.2 AST, 1.7 STL, 0.9 BLK, 34.8% 3PT
Why?
Covington is one of the best role players in the league when healthy and would form a formidable duo with OG Anunoby in terms of options defending wing players.
Why not?
Ultimately, Covington is a role player who isn’t going to alter Toronto’s ceiling. The Raptors already have an elite defence and while there are certainly benefits to adding him, he doesn’t address the team’s biggest needs.
How?
TOR sends Norman Powell and Stanley Johnson to Minnesota for Robert Covington and Jake Layman.
Kevin Love
2019-20 season stats: 17.3 PTS, 10.1 REB, 2.9 AST, 36.7% 3PT
Why?
Scoring? Check. Rebounding? Check. Love would address two of Toronto’s biggest weaknesses and is a proven playoff performer with championship pedigree.
Why not?
Love can be exposed defensively and may have a problem coming off the bench behind Marc Gasol. He’s definitely not starting ahead of Siakam at power forward and his contract would also extend into the 2021-22 season. Plus, do you really want to have close to $30 million in salary coming off the bench?
How?