The NBA’s trade deadline is February 23rd. That’s a mere 15 days away. It’s a time of high anxiety and excitement in NBA circles, even if it often amounts to nothing more than a hill of beans. Speaking of which, the last time the Raptors pulled off a deadline deal was 2014, in which they traded Austin Daye, a trade exception (TPE), and a bag of cash (always my favourite commodity) for Nando De Colo. (The league has been in an obvious uproar ever since.)
This season for the Raptors has essentially coalesced into one specific narrative: the team needs help.