Wednesday Windmill: The Toronto Raptors are willing to make some moves

With the NBA trade deadline approaching on Thursday at 3:00 PM EST, there are a lot of different stories swirling. One of the more interesting ones is the story involving the Toronto Raptors being willing to trade Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas to the Memphis Grizzlies for Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated has more below: 

"Perhaps of greatest intrigue, the Toronto Raptors have called Memphis, offering Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Lowry for both Conley and Gasol, league sources told Sports Illustrated. Memphis, sources said, would prefer to receive younger players such as OG Anunoby or draft assets in any exchange with Toronto that would send Conley north. The Grizzlies of course rejected Toronto's initial offer." 

While the Raptors' initial trade request was rejected, it's still interesting that they have been willing to move yet another key franchise piece as they seek to win their first NBA title. At 39-16, the Raptors are second in the Eastern Conference, playing really good basketball. I find it both unusual and interesting that they are willing to make such a radical move during the middle of the season.

                                          (Credit: USA TODAY Sports) 

What will be interesting to see as we head into the trade deadline is whether or not the Raptors actually move Lowry or Valanciunas and if they don't, how both players will respond in the second half of the season. The Raptors' biggest issue has been the mental side of the game and having your star players named in trade rumors could have an effect on team morale. Especially if those players don't get traded.

If I'm a Raptors fan, I'm definitely pleased that my team is willing to make moves, but I might worry they're overplaying things a bit. They've been in need of a guy who can lead them to a title and Kawhi Leonard appears to be up to the challenge. Rather than shuffling the deck, especially during the middle of the season, I might rather see how things go with Leonard before blowing up things even more. It's not like Lowry and Valanciunas have had no success in Toronto, and on the flip side, it's not as if Conley and Gasol have found the recipe for championship success, either.

Change can be good if it's the right kind of change. The kind of change the Raptors appear to be seeking seems to be more cut out of the "change for the sake of change" type of cloth, which isn't always the right kind of change. Sometimes it's better to just stand pat at the trade deadline. Especially when you just added a guy like Leonard into the fold.

To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here 

To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here 

To connect with Ben Parker, click here 

Saturday Slam: The Raptors are on the rise

     The Toronto Raptors are currently on a league best 11 game winning streak, boasting wins over the Clippers, Heat, and Knicks. While everybody is rightfully talking about the Warriors, Spurs, and Cavaliers as the top teams in the NBA, the Raptors are making a name for themselves in their own right. At 32-15, the Raptors are currently the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference, just 2.5 games behind the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and 5 games in front of the #3 Chicago Bulls.

     The emergence of the Raptors as a contender is largely due to the sensational play of DeMar DeRozan and veteran leadership of Kyle Lowry. DeRozan is averaging 23.2 points per game and Lowry is averaging 21 points per game and 6.3 assists. In addition to those two stars, the Raptors have a very talented big man in Jonas Valanciunas (12.2 points and 9.6 rebounds) and two solid forwards in DeMarre Carroll and Luis Scola, who both score in double figures.

     The Raptors have what is called "balance". They have an explosive scorer in DeRozan, a great facilitator and scorer in Lowry, a legitimate post presence in Valanciunas, and some solid role players to give that trio some support. The only thing this Raptors team lacks is a lot of experience, but they are starting to get that after going to the playoffs last season. With the way that they are growing and developing, they have the making of a team that will be very competitive for a very long time.

     As far as whether or not they are a championship caliber team, it ultimately comes down to whether or not DeMar DeRozan has the makeup of a player who can lead a team to a championship. It's hard to see him being that kind of player, but on the other hand, the numbers speak for themselves as does his team's winning streak. While I don't see the Raptors winning the 2016 NBA championship, there doesn't seem to be a good reason to think they can't win a title in couple of seasons.

     Ultimately, I cannot say with any certainty where the Raptors will be in a few seasons, but what I can say with certainty is that right now, they are a very good team with all the pieces to make serious noise in the playoffs this season. They have the scoring weapons, the post presence, and the depth. If you see the Toronto Raptors playing in May with a chance to go to the NBA Finals, do not be surprised. This team is for real and we should expect them to continue to be so for years to come.

   

NBA Daily Dunks: 8/10-8/16/15

                                                  (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source) 
     
Here is my Daily Dunks page for Monday August 10, 2015 through Sunday August 16, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with news from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Patty Mills is replacing Dante Exum on Australia's roster for the Oceania Championships (Click here for details).

#2. Nike won't match Adidas' offer to James Harden. Harden is joining Adidas (Click here for details).

#3. The Celtics officially waived guard Zoran Dragic (Click here for details).

#4. The Nets officially waived forward Earl Clark (Click here for details).

#5. The Nets signed point guard Donald Sloan (Click here for details).

#6. The NBA and Under Armour announced a partnership (Click here for details).

#7. 76ers center Joel Embiid is scheduled to undergo a foot operation in the near future (Click here for details).

#8. Tristan Thompson may not re-sign with the Cavaliers (Click here for details).

#9. The Lakers worked out Bobby Brown, Toure Murry, and other guys on Monday (Click here for details).

#10. Michael Jordan says he loves Kobe Bryant like a brother (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Kevin Durant is being cautious as he recovers (Click here for details).

#2. Timberwolves president/head coach Flip Saunders has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. It is "very treatable" and he plans to continue on with his regular duties (Click here for details).

#3. The Pacers officially signed guard Toney Douglas (Click here for details).

#4. Markieff Morris demands a trade from the Suns (Click here for details).

#5. Phil Jackson doesn't miss Andrea Bargnani (Click here for details).

#6. Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns believes they can make the playoffs (Click here for details).

#7. Joel Embiid has reached out to Kevin Durant about his impending foot surgery (Click here for details).

Tuesday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Liberty 84 Sky 63. Fever 73 Mystics 62. Lynx 83 Stars 76. Storm 85 Sparks 77.

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Hawks forward Mike Scott faces 25 years on drug charges (Click here for details).

#2. The 2015-16 NBA regular season schedule was released (Click here for details).

#3. Baron Davis is working out and preparing for an NBA comeback. He's serious. (Click here for details).

#4. LeBron James hasn't made a decision yet on the 2016 Olympic games (Click here for details).

#5. Wisconsin governor Scott Walker has signed the Bucks' arena deal (Click here for details).

#6. Derrick Rose won't compete for Team USA in the 2016 Olympic games (Click here for details).

#7. Paul George has been excused from Team USA minicamp (Click here for details).

#8. Malik Rose is joining the Hawks as their manager of basketball operations (Click here for details).

#9. Greg Oden signed in China with the Jiangsu Dragons (Click here for details).

#10. Here is a funny version of Space Jam 2.

Wednesday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Sun 80 Shock 74. Mercury 83 Storm 66.

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The NBA and officials officially agreed on a 7-year collective bargaining agreement that starts in the 2015-16 season (Click here for details).

#2. The Mavericks signed JaVale McGee (Click here for details).

#3. The Lakers signed forward Jonathan Holmes (Click here for details).

#4. James Harden has officially left Nike for Adidas (Click here for details).

#5. Kevin Durant says he's the best player in the world (Click here for details).

#6. The Kings signed undrafted UTEP forward Vince Hunter to a partially guaranteed deal (Click here for details).

#7. T.J. Zanin is leaving the Nets to be the head of college scouting for the Hornets (Click here for details).

#8. The Timberwolves have signed Tayshaun Prince to a one year, $1.4M deal for the veteran's minimum (Click here for details).

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Former Nets point guard Tyshawn Taylor has been arrested for cashing a fake money order (Click here for details).

#2. Charles Barkley thinks the Knicks will make the playoffs next season (Click here for details).

#3. Kevin Durant reveals that there was a second break in his foot (Click here for details).

#4. Markieff Morris, who wants out of Phoenix, would prefer to go to the Raptors or Rockets (Click here for details).

#5. The Heat signed center Keith Benson for training camp (Click here for details).

#6. The Thunder signed undrafted free agent guard Dez Wells (Click here for details).

#7. Bryce Dejean-Jones signed a three-year, partially guaranteed deal with the Pelicans (Click here for details).

Friday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Liberty 90 Sun 78. Lynx 84 Dream 82. Sky 94 Storm 84.

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Hawks signed Jason Richardson to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#2. The Pistons' arena is being renovated (Click here for details).

#3. Roland Beech is joining the Kings to run their analytics department (Click here for details).

#4. Benny the Bull wins mascot of the year honors (Click here for details).

#5. Caron Butler is planning to release an autobiography (Click here for details).

#6. Michael Jordan and Nike are planning an all-Jordan Brand store in Chicago (Click here for details).

#7. J.R. Smith proposed to his girlfriend (Click here for details).

#8. 76ers center Joel Embiid's foot surgery is scheduled for Tuesday (Click here for details).

Saturday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Shock 81 Liberty 76.

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Kobe Bryant wants to play for Team USA in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio (Click here for details).

#2. The Cavaliers signed shooting guard Jared Cunningham to a training camp deal (Click here for details).

#3. Former #5 overall pick Nikoloz Tskitishvili wants an NBA comeback (Click here for details).

#4. Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas tweaked his hip playing for Lithuania, but he says it is nothing serious (Click here for details).

#5. LeBron James has set up a college scholarship program for at-risk Akron youth (Click here for details).

#6. Joel Embiid's foot isn't insured by the 76ers (Click here for details).

#7. James Harden says Ty Lawson is "more focused than ever" after rehab (Click here for details).

#8. Charles Barkley hopes Kobe Bryant retires after the 2015-16 season (Click here for details).

#9. The Knicks are interested in Ricky Rubio (Click here for details).

#10. The Hornets signed Sam Thompson to a training camp deal (Click here for details).

Sunday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Dream 90 Sun 77. Mystics 77 Lynx 69. Sparks 76 Sky 64. Fever 75 Mercury 63.  Storm 72 Stars 63.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news and updates. Also, like my Facebook page NBA Lord Nation  and follow my Google Plus page NBA Lord to stay on top of the NBA.