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Toronto Raptors: 3 ways Marc Gasol will help the team

By Orestis Rantis

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 30: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on in the first quarter during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 30: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on in the first quarter during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images /

1. The East is getting scary

The bottom line is, everybody else made moves at the deadline. Why not the Toronto Raptors?

The Milwaukee Bucks just traded for Nikola Mirotic, a player who looks like a perfect addition to a pretty much flawless team, as Giannis Antetokounmpo and co. have taken the league by storm so far this season.

The Philadelphia 76ers were a terrific team in the East with high chances of making it to the NBA Finals one day. Then, they went ahead and added a borderline All-Star in exchange for future picks and a rookie. As we now await to see what the ceiling of this newly formed super-team will be, bookies are already modifying their odds in favor of the 76ers.

And then you have the Boston Celtics. Already possessing countless valuable assets, the only thing the Celtics have to do to have a chance to win the East is stay healthy. Though that may seem like an easy task, they have yet to solve the puzzle of long-term health. Fortunately for them, some of their biggest stars are getting healthier with time.

All of their opponents are getting better and better, thus raising the level of competition in the Eastern Conference. So would the Toronto Raptors stay with their arms crossed throughout the trade deadline day? You bet your raptor’s claw they wouldn’t!

The addition of Marc Gasol is set to counter the moves these other teams decided to make. Since these teams decided to sacrifice their bench depth in exchange for more firepower, they are all left without a superior bench option at the center spot.

Winners and losers of the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline. dark. Next

Gasol is set to face off against players like Boban Marjanovic and Aron Baynes once defensive anchors Joel Embiid and Al Horford sit for some rest. And believe this: an All-Star and former member of the All-NBA First Team is going to feast on players like that.

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