Al Horford and Joakim Noah (Photo : Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors have emerged as a major playoff contender in the Eastern Conference this season, currently boasting the second best record in the conference at 35-16 few days before All-Star break.
Yet, despite the Raps' success so far in the regular-season, NBA analysts are still not convinced this team has the materials to survive the grind of the postseason.
In fact, they don't feel the All-Star duo of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry along with a much improved defense will be able to get them past the proverbial favorites, the Cleveland Cavaliers, if the two teams cross path in the conference finals.
For the Raptors to get to the next level, another bonifide star should be added to the current nucleus.
Keep in mind, this team has the assets (four first-round picks over the next two years) to go big-name hunting at the trade deadline. However, general manager Masai Ujiri surprisingly hasn't been an aggressive player on the trading market as of late, and many thinks he will likely stay like that unless a top frontline player like Al Horford or Marc Gasol suddenly become available at a much cheaper price.
Then again, it's that time of the year again when trade rumors are sprouting like mushrooms, and certainly there's no shortage of it when it comes with the Raptors.
Vinsanity' return to Toronto: Before the Lowry-DeRozan combo and Dinosaur set their foot on Air Canada, there was a man called half-man, half-amazing. He was no other than the franchise, Vince Carter.
At 39-year old, Carter has no plans to hang his jersey for good and even stresses his desire to play beyond his contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Sportrageous.com speculated that Carter might consider returning 'home' for his 20th and possibly final season of his electrifying basketball career. Yes, Carter and the Raps had an ugly split in 2004, but this video shows that there's still love, a lot of it apparently, for Toronto's prodigal son.
Fact or Fiction: I say a fact on Vince Carter's potential farewell tour with the Raptors with factuality meter of 75 percent. There's no fitting end to Carter's career than to soar for the last time at Air Canada.
Kenneth Faried, Markieff Morris and Al Horford on Raptors radar: Yep, indeed it's trade rumor season time. According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Raptors are aggressively looking for help at the power forward position.
Names like Farried, Morris and Horford have been linked as potential trade targets for the Raps. Still, Ujiri has the final say whether to stay with their conservative approach or go all in to top the East.
Fact or Fiction: I feel the Raptors will make a move before trade deadline and it would be a minor one. Perhaps, they will try to get Morris or P.J Tucker to add frontline depth. On the other hand, I am not ruling out a blockbuster deal here. As National Post NBA writer Mike Ganter stated 'all bets are off if all of a sudden Atlanta makes Al Horford available.' It's a fact.
