Down to the final two weeks before the NBA trade deadline, the Toronto Raptors find themselves in an interesting spot.
Expected to crumble in the wake of Kawhi Leonard’s off-season exit, the club’s 2019-20 resilience has been well-documented. Through the first half of the campaign, Toronto sits third in the East with a 30-14 record, even after a rash of injuries tested them at different points in the season.
The rapid, continued growth of Pascal Siakam — recently named a 2020 All-Star Game starter — has played a key role. But where do things stand regarding the rest of the roster?
Let’s check in on the latest rumours circulating around the Association concerning the Raptors and the league at large.
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Will Ujiri be listening to offers for the Raptors’ star veterans?
At this point it seems more likely that the Raptors wade through the trade deadline without causing much of a stir. But this is the NBA, after all, so it’s anyone’s guess how the chips will actually fall.
For what it’s worth, NBA insider Bobby Marks said regardless of the team’s situation, there are very few truly untouchable names in today’s game. So, you can bet Ujiri will at least listen.
“You’ve got maybe three or four guys (league-wide) who are untouchable. You know, like Steph Curry when healthy and even right now, Luka, guys like that. But I think anybody can be had at the right price, right?” Marks said Friday on Sportsnet 590’s Good Show. “If someone calls and makes a sweet offer for Kyle Lowry or Serge Ibaka and it doesn’t set you back and you can still be a top-three or four team in the Eastern Conference and maybe get to the Final, yeah, I think you’re going to consider it.
“I don’t think the players should be offended by that, because it’s almost a badge of honour that teams want you.”
Whether Ujiri opts to pull the trigger on any proposed deal in pursuit of a better chance at going back-to-back in 2020 remains to be seen. But to Marks’ point, every GM in the league will at least see what the options are.
“I don’t think Masai’s going to disconnect his phone the week of February 2nd and say, ‘I’m not taking calls’ — everybody’s taking calls,” Marks said. “Unless you were Golden State the last four or five years who basically were content with that roster. Everybody makes the calls now, and you kind of just get a feeling-out process as far as who’s out there.”
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Sixers, Mavericks interested in Thunder veteran Gallinari
An influx of talent to fellow Eastern Conference rivals could play a role in forcing Ujiri’s hand, and one such team seems interested in an upgrade.
According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, the Philadelphia 76ers have expressed interest in Oklahoma City Thunder vet Danilo Gallinari, acquired by OKC in the deal that sent Paul George to Kawhi Leonard’s Los Angeles Clippers. The Mavericks have also shown interest, per O’Connor, given Gallinari’s effectiveness of late.
“Though Gallinari, 31, has never been an All-Star, he’s played like one this season in Oklahoma City and last season with the Clippers,” O’Connor wrote. “Gallinari can become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but few teams will have cap space, and most of them will be younger teams unlikely to pursue players in their 30s.
“The team that retains him heading into the summer will have a significant advantage in keeping him since they’ll have his Bird rights, and thus the ability to offer a more lucrative deal.”
The Sixers have also been linked to Derrick Rose, as well as Bogdan Bogdanovic and Robert Covington, according to recent reports.
Pelicans looking to be buyers at deadline to make playoff push with Zion
The Pelicans’ season might’ve taken a sharp turn this week, with the long-awaited debut of Zion Williamson finally hitting the NBA.
It’s too early to judge how big an impact the No. 1 pick’s arrival will have, but if his flashes of dominance during that debut tilt are any indication, New Orleans could be on track for a surprising playoff berth by the time the post-season rolls around.
That being the case, the club’s deadline plans appear to be in flux.
After ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the team has pulled back from trade talks given their recent run of success, Brian Windhorst added further reporting regarding the surprising change of plans in New Orleans.
“In fact, I’ve heard that in the talks that they’ve had, they’ve been looking to acquire players,” he said. “Maybe not a big-time player, but if they’re going to add something, maybe add a veteran, because they are a really young team.”
