Thaddeus Young (Photo : Al Bello | Getty Images Sport)
The Toronto Raptors are still seeking a power forward as they continue to be inconsistent.
They have cooled down after a hot start and now they are at 12-8. It's still a winning record and good enough for 5th place in the Eastern Conference. However, the standings are so close that a couple of losses could send them back to 10th place. This is why the East seems more exciting than the West and so unpredictable that no team has a lock on the playoffs.
The problem with Toronto is that they have a gaping hole to fill as Raptors Republic points out. Since Amir Johnson signed with the Celtics, they have not addressed that need and their acquisition DeMarre Carroll is more of a natural "three."
They start Luis Scola at the position but RR points out that he is 35, and while he is a polished offensive player, he has defensive shortcomings. Plus, because of his age, he is not the Raptors long-term answer at the starting slot.
The recent injury to starting center Jonas Valanciunas compounds their situation and now they really need to address it as soon as they can. Their recent loss to Denver, who snapped their eight game losing streak against the Raps, shows just how vulnerable the team is.
This is why the Raptors were attached to the power forwards on the market, like Markieff Morris. It was probably a good call for GM Masai Ujiri to pass on that one, and take a low risk gamble (and lose) with Anthony Benett. But the hole is left unfilled.
Enter the Brooklyn Nets. According to SI.Com, the Brooklyn Nets would not be afraid to trade Thaddeus Young, one of their few bright spots. He is a good complement to center Brook Lopez but the Nets have to face the fact that they won't make the playoffs this year and since they don't have a draft pick, they need to trade for one.
The Raptors have their own first round draft pick and more importantly, the less favorable of the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks pick. If it happened now, both teams are in the lottery, and the Raptors could get the lower one.
Now, it would all boil down to negotiations on whether they give trade the Knicks/Nuggets pick or their own first rounder for Thaddeus Young. The Raptors have a legit shot at a deep playoff run if they fill in their only weak point and Ujiri could would probably pull the trigger soon.
