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NBA Trade Deadline: Every Team’s Most Untouchable Asset

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) is fouled as he dribbes the ball by New York Knicks guard Jerian Grant (13) in the second half of the Raptors 103-93 win at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) is fouled as he dribbes the ball by New York Knicks guard Jerian Grant (13) in the second half of the Raptors 103-93 win at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry

The Toronto Raptors have built the current strength of the organization around the backcourt combination of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. Center Jonas Valanciunas is being developed into a future face of the franchise, but Toronto is riding DeRozan and Lowry to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

If only one player who can be classified as the most untouchable player in Toronto, it’s Lowry.

The Raptors are 35-17, which is good for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and the fifth-best mark in the NBA. Lowry has been the leader of the charge, ranking No. 7 in the NBA in Win Shares, No. 6 in Real Plus-Minus, and No. 15 in Player Efficiency Rating.

That helped Lowry receive a second consecutive All-Star Game selection in 2016, and will likely lead to an All-NBA nod at season’s end.

DeRozan is a tremendous scorer, and he’s come a long way as an all-around player. He was deservingly named an All-Star in 2016, and shouldn’t be traded without the return including a player superior to he; all things considered, the list of qualifying candidates is brief.

If only one player needs to be kept in Toronto, however, it’s Lowry—the player who has elevated this crew to its current heights.

Next: Utah Jazz