Toronto Raptors: 3 reasons to stand pat at 2019 NBA Trade Deadline

2. The return of Jonas Valanciunas

Big man Jonas Valanciunas is projected to return this week after his dislocated thumb injury. After starting the the season 20-7, the injury bug hit Toronto during a cold week in early December.

Valanciunas, a key role player in the Raptors’ rotation, has been out since that unfortunate swat by Draymond Green, with both Kawhi Leonard (load management) and Kyle Lowry (sore back) alternating their significant missed time. Since the beginning of the season, Norman Powell, C.J. Miles, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby all missed time at one point or another.

This roster has never been truly healthy, going through their worst stretch of the schedule. They played all but one of their 10 back-to-backs and won’t travel further West than Chicago for the remainder of the season, and their two All-Stars have only played 29 of the 55 games together.

This team, by all accord, should not have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, yet it does because of the aforementioned depth. So why does this mean they shouldn’t make a trade before the deadline?

The addition of Valanciunas is similar to acquiring a player via trade, yet they don’t lose anyone on their roster and he already has chemistry with his teammates. JV uniquely impacts this roster. He’s their best screen-setter, best pick-and-roll companion, sports a respectable mid-range jumper that keeps most defenses honest, and is a beast of a rebounder, ranking top 10 in rebound percentage over the last three years. Let’s not forget JV’s killer pump fake either.

With Jonas Valanciunas soon to be back, Lowry playing into form and the roster getting into a rhythm without worrying who is injured that night, a trade may undo all the positives that are finally about to materialize.