Raptors likely not done dealing

SEEK ROTATIONAL PIECE

RYAN WOLSTAT TORONTO • The three-time defending Atlantic Division champion Toronto Raptors return to action on Friday at home against the new top dogs of the division, the Boston Celtics.

About 70 per cent of the way through an up-and-down regular season, the Raptors will need to make up four games on Boston with 25 to play. Friday’s tilt come a day after the NBA’s trade deadline. Masai Ujiri and Co. made an impact move already, acquiring Serge Ibaka, but what comes next?

Here are four burning Raptors/ NBA questions: necessity. DeMar DeRozan missed some time due to injury, backup Cory Joseph struggled and the team has cratered without Lowry. Toronto scores 13.4 more points per 100 possessions with Lowry on the court than when he rests. He needs to be on the floor — a lot — but he is also turning 31 in a month and absorbs a ton of contact at both ends. He burnt out under a similar workload two seasons ago and was injured and dreadful as the team got swept by Washington. That can’t happen again. Joseph has shown flashes of a revival lately and Delon Wright impressed in his first two appearances of the year post-injury.

Boston is playing .649 ball despite various injuries and boasts a treasure chest of assets that are the envy of the NBA. The big boss, Danny Ainge, has sat on his haul for a long time, but the rumour mill has connected the Celtics to Bulls superstar Jimmy Butler again and the team covets Paul George as well (it’s highly unlikely Indiana moves George). Boston likely holds onto the potential No. 1 pick of this summer’s draft (via the Brooklyn Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce robbery), but can still offer an enticing package for Butler without it. Meanwhile, last-place Brooklyn is trying to move top player Brook Lopez for picks and/or prospects; The woeful Knicks would like to engineer a divorce from Carmelo Anthony, but he would have to agree to any move and Bryan Colangelo’s Philadelphia 76ers still have a frontcourt dilemma to resolve.