The next few weeks will be extremely important for the Toronto Raptors. They must perform better regarding their expectations as they approach the midway point of the 2022-23 NBA season. As a result, they could be surprise sellers ahead of the trade deadline.
The Raptors are currently 17-23, heading in the wrong direction in the Eastern Conference standings. They are on the outside looking in of the NBA Play-In Tournament, holding down the 12th spot in the standings.
If things are not turned around quickly, they will have some difficult decisions to make ahead of the deadline. Toronto is staring down the luxury tax, which will impact its decision-making process as well.
As detailed by Marc Stein on his Substack, the Raptors’ long-term plans will be revealed in the coming weeks. Fred VanVleet is one player to keep an eye on, as he could become a free agent this summer. The same is likely for Gary Trent Jr., who also finds himself on the trade block.
“The far trickier read in Toronto is what happens with Fred VanVleet, who passed on a $114 million contract extension coming into the season in hopes of scoring a more lucrative deal this summer. If the Raptors don’t part with VanVleet before the Feb. 9 deadline, that would suggest they expect to re-sign him. As of today, Jan. 9, only Trent is described with any regularity as available in Toronto.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Gary Trent Jr & Toronto Raptors Updates
Many people speculated that the Raptors could break up their core during the 2021 offseason, but they opted against it. That could become true ahead of the 2023 deadline as the Raptors’ roster could use a shake-up.
Toronto was big game hunting in the offseason, as they were connected to Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell on the trade market to varying degrees. No deal was made, as they would not include reigning Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes Jr. in any trade talks. Barnes isn’t going anywhere now, either, but they could be more open to dealing some of their other rotation players, such as Trent.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Gary Trent Jr & Toronto Raptors Updates
We are going to find out a lot about the Raptors in the next few weeks. The players they have pinpointed as long-term building blocks will be revealed to some degree as they also have to worry about not dipping into the luxury tax for a roster that isn’t a winning one currently.
