'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Toronto Raptors have been dominating the NBA Eastern Conference for a while now after the addition of one of the best two-way players in Kawhi Leonard last offseason. They led the leaderboard for quite some time but are currently sitting at the second spot just a game behind the Bucks.
Masai Ujiri had a roadmap in his mind when he let go of potential franchise cornerstone DeMar DeRozan in exchange for the Claw. As the Raptors front office laid end to a fruitful mid-season trade period, it sure looks like his plan of action is falling in place piece by piece.
With just a sliver more than a quarter of games remaining in the season, the race to lead into the postseason is already underway. The trade activity in the east gave us a taste of what's coming. The Bucks, Sixers, Raptors have all infused some quality reinforcements into their squads and are ready to battle it out in the post-LeBron East era.
Let's take a look at what the Toronto Raptors could come up with on the trade front before the deadline expired on them.
#1. The blockbuster deal that landed a cerebral Grizzlies veteran in Toronto
Considering the immense pressure on the Raptors to make a deep playoff run - after being swept by LeBron over and over again - this surely comes as an upgrade to the current roster.
Marc Gasol is clearly past his prime, however, to land the Grizzlies franchise leader in points, rebounds, blocks, and FGs made to the squad at a relatively cheap price is what Ujiri deserves applauds for. Gasol might be the last piece of the puzzle needed by the Raptors to make a playoff run compelling enough to make Kawhi stay past the oncoming summer.
"Marc brings significant playoff experience to our team, which along with his savviness and leadership skills really helps position us for our ultimate postseason goal," Raptors president Masai Ujiri said
Gasol is averaging the second most assists(4.7) amongst centres in the league, along with a decent 15.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as well.
#2. The Raptors lost to OKC in the race for Markieff Morris; Acquired Jeremy Lin
Going through a dip in his career numbers recently, Markieff averaged 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 43.6 per cent from the field along the 34 games with the Wizards prior to the trade. However, his ability to contribute on both ends of the floor would have bode well in a bench role in Toronto had they reeled him in.
Golden State, New York, Houston, the Lakers, Charlotte, Brooklyn, Atalanta and now Toronto. Fair to say, Lin has seen his lion's share of NBA franchises. In the aftermath of Fred VanVleet's left thumb ligament injury(out for five weeks), Lin has taken the backup point guard spot behind Kyle Lowry
"He’s a good player," Nurse said of Lin. "We want to get good players on the floor … I’m excited to see him."
Also, according to ESPN,
In a separate deal, the Raptors traded veteran center Greg Monroe and a 2021 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for cash considerations.
#3. How it affects the status quo in the blooming Eastern Conference
The Sixers added Tobias Harris to their starting lineup, the Bucks acquired Mirotic while the Raptors responded with Marc Gasol up their sleeves. Now that all the top teams in the Eastern Conference have made their moves, the bell has rung for the final sprint to postseason kick-off.
It was slated to be a wide open game of thrones once LeBron flew to the West Coast. Teams like the Bucks, Celtics, Sixers who have been serving under the King's reign all this time, finally got the chance to compete to become the face of their Conference.
After all the heartbreaks, disloyalty claims, acquisitions, trades and injuries, the onus is on the Raptors to at least make it to the East Finals this year. They have the best two-way small forward in the league, and one of the most high-IQ NBA centres on their roster now. Anything short of an Eastern Conference Finals seven-game series would be a huge letdown.
Guess the Lakers players!
