Toronto Raptors: 3 big questions following 2019 NBA All-Star break

3. Will the new assets be a step forward?

As said before, it’d be pointless to talk about the performances of Gasol and Lin just yet. The Spanish center has played three games so far, averaging 10 points and 6.3 rebounds in 20 minutes per game off the bench, while Lin has worn the Raptors jersey just once, recording eight points, five rebounds and five assists in his 25 minutes.

Trading Jonas Valanciunas for Marc Gasol is a recipe set for success. Gasol is far more experienced and possesses pure basketball talent, the kind you rarely find on a big man.

When you weigh in the fact that Linsanity arrived in Toronto for “free,” it’s hard to imagine those two moves being anything but a huge step forward for the Raptors. The real question is, will they be enough to match the moves made by Toronto’s biggest rivals?

The Philadelphia 76ers shocked the world by trading young guys and future assets for Tobias Harris, a borderline All-Star that fits perfectly into Philly’s system due to his ability to score in every possible way.

The Milwaukee Bucks, who have been battling with the Raptors for the first seed in the Eastern Conference for quite some time now, traded for Nikola Mirotic without giving up anything that would hurt their chances.

As a result, the 76ers now have the best starting lineup in the East, the Bucks became even deadlier from behind the arc and the Boston Celtics may have the deepest roster in the league, though they decided to have a quiet trade deadline.

It is common courtesy to believe that Gasol and Lin made the Raptors better. But did they make them better enough?