Toronto Raptors: How Will They Approach The Trade Deadline?

With two weeks left before the trade deadline, the Toronto Raptors are in a position to make a big splash if they want to set themselves up for a playoff run this year.

So far, it’s been a great 2016 for the Toronto Raptors.

While the team’s 11-game winning streak (a franchise best, by the way) recently got dashed by the Denver Nuggets, the team’s dynamic backcourt duo of Kyle Lowry and Demar DeRozan each earned selections to this year’s All-Star game as well as co-Player of the Month honors for the month of January.

Additionally, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey garnered Coach of the Month honors in the Eastern Conference due to the team’s impressive 12-2 record in the month of January.

What makes the team’s recent winning ways even more impressive is that they have been without forward DeMarre Carroll, the team’s big free agent acquisition last offseason and the Raptors still sit comfortably as the second seed in the East.

Even as the team keeps riding this upward trend, they face a big question that could define the rest of their season going forward and possibly beyond.

That question is what do the Raptors do at the trade deadline?

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This season has been an overwhelming success for the Raptors up until this point, but with the team’s front office expecting a deep playoff run this year, it could be in the team’s best interest to make an upgrade before the deadline instead of waiting until Summer.

Furthermore, an interesting offseason lies ahead as DeRozan is expected to hit free agency, and based on his exceptional play this season, that will have a significant impact on their cap books.

Where it could get interesting is what position they could target.

The obvious long-term hole is the team’s starting power forward spot.  While both Luis Scola and Patrick Patterson have collectively made a positive impact this season, neither are long-term solutions as starting fours.

Although what might make the Raptors’ front office think twice about what position to target is the status of Carroll.

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For the most part, Carroll has struggled to stay healthy all year, and it shows in his individual numbers (11.7 points per game on 39 percent from the field and 38 percent from deep, per Basketball-Reference.com), albeit in a limited sample size.

Both James Johnson and Terrence Ross have been effective while Carroll recovers after undergoing surgery on his right knee and the team will most likely take it slow with Carroll once he makes his return following the All-Star break.

That could force the front office to look at acquiring a wing that could hold down the fort while the team takes things slow with Carroll (possibly P.J. Tucker of the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein).

Going that route would also give the team more versatility as their ongoing small ball experiment this season has been very successful.

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The Raptors have a deep arsenal of draft picks that will certainly entice teams in dealing any of their respective players, but according to Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun, a pick wouldn’t be dealt for just any returning player.

"While a source who would know said the Raps will not be adding four more rookies over the next two seasons — meaning there will be an opening for a move — value will need to be coming back and a pick will not be dealt cheaply just because of the need for assistance."

With two weeks until the trade deadline, the time is ticking for the Raptors to make an upgrade before the trade deadline and whatever ends up happening will show just how serious the team values the rest of the season.