Despite being in the top-three of the Eastern Conference for basically the entire season, very few people think of the Toronto Raptors as true championship contenders. They are looking to change that, however, and a major move could be on the horizon as they try to add around their All-Star backcourt of Kyle Lowry and Demar Derozan.
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According to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, the Raptors might be willing to package to of their younger players in an effort to bring in a big name:
Rival execs who've talked to Raptors believe they may be willing to build a package around Terrence Ross & Jonas Valanciunas to land a star.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 16, 2015
A couple of names have been brought up in regards to the Raptors including David West of the Indiana Pacers and Kevin Garnett of the Brooklyn Nets. Terrence Ross has switched back and forth between a starting role, but Jonas Valanciunas has been the team’s starting center since joining the NBA in 2012.
The championship window for a team can open and close very quickly and after getting some playoff experience last season, the Raptors are looking to take that next step. Be it with a frontcourt player or a wing, many expect the Raptors to make a move before Thursday’s deadline.
The Eastern Conference is wide open this season as the pre-season favorites, the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, haven’t quite come together yet. The Raptors, along with the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards, are newcomers to NBA’s elite and they could be trying to stand out from the pack with a move by Thursday.
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