Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are reportedly casting a wide net for targets ahead of Thursday's 2022 NBA trade deadline, looking at a group led by Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported Saturday the Raptors are firmly in the market for a center, and the Portland Trail Blazers' Jusuf Nurkic, San Antonio Spurs' Jakob Poeltl, Boston Celtics' Robert Williams III and Brooklyn Nets' Nicolas Claxton are among those they've expressed interest in.

Toronto also checked on the availability of Atlanta Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari, per Scotto.

The Raptors are riding a five-game winning streak that's improved their record to 28-23. That ranks seventh in the Eastern Conference, which feels wide open with just 5.5 games separating the top-seeded Chicago Bulls (33-19) and the ninth-seeded Charlotte Hornets (28-25).

Toronto doesn't have any players in the heart of the MVP discussion, but it's received strong across-the-board production. Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. are all averaging over 18 points per game and Scottie Barnes is putting together a rock-solid rookie season.

Those promising signs, combined with the recent hot streak, have seemingly pushed the Raptors front office to at least consider becoming a buyer ahead of the deadline.

A true center would give head coach Nick Nurse more lineup flexibility and reduce the number of potential mismatches against certain opponents.

The Raptors have found small-ball success with Siakam and Precious Achiuwa (both 6'8'') splitting most of the minutes at the 5. Somebody like Turner (6'11'') would bring another dimension to the roster.

Turner has enjoyed another strong campaign for the Pacers, averaging 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.9 percent from the field. It hasn't helped translate to much team success, as Indiana sits 13th in the East at 19-35.

The 25-year-old University of Texas product has been out since Jan. 14 with a foot injury. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the ailment is expected to sideline him through the deadline, but the initial one-month timetable could allow him to return shortly after in mid-February.

Meanwhile, Gallinari is an ideal fit for the Raptors' smaller, almost positionless style of play and could benefit from a change of scenery after seeing his role reduced with the Hawks the past two years.

The 33-year-old Italian is playing just 23.1 minutes per game this season, his lowest amount since his rookie year (2008-09) with the New York Knicks.

He could see playing time both on the wing and in the frontcourt if dealt to Toronto.

All told, outside expectations for the Raptors were quite low coming into the season (35.5 projected win total, per Vegas Insider) following the departure of team legend Kyle Lowry, but they've exceeded those and are in position to possibly make some noise in the playoffs.

A few deadline upgrades would further bolster those chances.

Toronto Raptors guard Goran Dragic will likely be on the move in the coming weeks.

The Toronto Star's Doug Smith reported Sunday that the Raptors are "finding great interest in a myriad of differently structured deals for the veteran point guard," and he is "almost certain" to be traded before the Feb. 10 deadline.

Dragic hasn't appeared in a game for the Raptors since a Nov. 13 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Toronto announced on Nov. 28 that the 35-year-old would be stepping away from the team indefinitely for personal reasons.

Dragic was traded to the Raptors in a sign-and-trade deal in August that shipped Kyle Lowry to the Miami Heat. At the time, the former second-round pick said he didn't want to play in Toronto, but it appeared the two sides worked things out before the 2021-22 season began.

Dragic has appeared in just five games for the Raptors this season and averaged 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists through those contests.

While Toronto might be somewhat better with Dragic in the lineup, having the Slovenian sidelined doesn't necessarily have a significant impact on the Raptors. Fred VanVleet is the team's starting point guard, and Malachi Flynn backs him up.

The Raptors' decision to move Dragic should not come as a surprise. The team has propelled itself into playoff contention with a 24-23 record, good for eighth in the Eastern Conference. If the Raptors can get a solid depth piece in exchange for Dragic, they'll undoubtedly be better moving forward.

As for the team that acquires Dragic, he can still be a serviceable player. He was most effective in his seven seasons with the Heat, averaging 16.2 points, 5.2 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game across 391 contests. He has also played for the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.

However, Dragic is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2021-22 campaign, so he would be considered a rental. 

As the Ben Simmons trade talks continue, the Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly discussed potential deals with a number of teams.

Two of them include the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors, per The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Amick, who noted that "Indiana's Domantas Sabonis and Toronto's Pascal Siakam" have come up in talks but "organizationally they have felt that those players were not championship-altering, perfect fits on the roster" in Philadelphia.

Sabonis, 25, would make exactly zero sense for the Sixers in a trade unless he was rerouted to a different city in a multi-team deal. Like MVP candidate Joel Embiid, Sabonis plays the center position and doesn't offer much in the way of floor spacing, shooting 32.7 percent from three. 

While he's undoubtedly a good player (19.0 PPG, 11.9 RPG), he'd be a terrible fit next to Embiid, creating many of the same floor-spacing issues that Simmons has caused or Al Horford did in the past. 

In a multi-team deal, however, he may help the Sixers bring aboard a player who fits better. 

Siakam would be a questionable fit as well and would only make sense if the team also dealt Tobias Harris to make room at the 4. The 27-year-old is averaging 21.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 33.0 percent from three. 

His ability to create his own shot would be an upgrade over Harris and every other current Sixer not named Embiid, but his career struggles from three (32.5 percent) could cause some floor-spacing issues in Philly. 

Granted, Siakam would be a far better fit than Sabonis and arguably a better one than Simmons, though the latter's playmaking has always made the Sixers a dangerous transition team. 

But unless the Sixers were also able to unload Harris at the Feb. 10 trade deadline—a tricky proposition given that he's due around $76 million over the next two seasons, a number far exceeding his production—the Siakam fit would be wonky at best.

Philly lacks high-end playmaking and a perimeter player capable of consistently creating his own shot in crunch time. Embiid has played to an incredibly high level thus far this season, carrying the offense, but come the postseason, defenses will shrink around him and force the other Sixers to carry a bigger offensive load. 

Finding a player who can consistently take advantage of those opportunities, namely from the guard position, makes the most sense in the quest to replace Simmons. Those players come at a premium, of course, and it may take the Sixers into the summer to potentially land one.

The Toronto Raptors are reportedly interested in acquiring San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. 

Toronto selected Poeltl ninth overall in the 2016 draft and later traded him to the Spurs as part of the Kawhi Leonard deal in 2018. The 26-year-old has spent four of his six NBA seasons in San Antonio. 

"The Raptors' recent 11-4 surge propelled them into Eastern Conference playoff contention, and they have been looking for center upgrades for some time," Stein wrote in his newsletter. 

However, Stein mentioned the Raptors are in a tough spot with their luxury tax situation. Toronto is $268,420 below the luxury tax threshold and it's unclear if the franchise would be willing to exceed that number in a deal for Poeltl. 

Poeltl agreed to a three-year, $27 million extension with the Spurs during the 2020 offseason. He is making $8.75 million this season and is set to make $9.4 million during the 2022-23 campaign. 

The Austrian is in the midst of his most productive season in the NBA, averaging a career-high 12.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 59.7 percent from the field. 

Poeltl is San Antonio's top center, playing in a starting lineup that includes Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson and Doug McDermott. Drew Eubanks and Jock Landale are behind him on the depth chart, and it's unclear if the Spurs would be comfortable elevating either player to a starting position. 

The Raptors, meanwhile, could definitely use an upgrade at the five. Precious Achiuwa, who is just 22 years old, is averaging 7.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. While those numbers aren't bad by any means, the team could use some more experience and the added depth. 

Behind Achiuwa, the Raptors are rolling with Khem Birch and Daniel Oturu. However, Birch continues to struggle with a nagging knee injury which has limited him throughout the season. 

Toronto is eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 20-18 record. At just 6.5 games behind the No. 1 Chicago Bulls, it's not surprising that the Raptors are ready to make a splash at the trade deadline. 

The Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs will play in front of empty home stadiums for the immediate future because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michael Ranger of CityNews Toronto reported chief medical officer Dr. Kieran Moore announced indoor capacity for venues such as arenas and theaters can either host 1,000 people or 50 percent capacity, depending on which one is lower.

The NBA's Raptors and NHL's Maple Leafs responded by saying they will not sell tickets starting Friday and will reassess the restrictions in three weeks.

Ranger noted this announcement comes after Ontario reported 13,807 new infections and 965 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 on Thursday. The province is also delaying in-person learning for schools from Jan. 3 until at least Jan. 5.

While the Raptors and Maple Leafs are looking to limit exposure for their players, coaches and employees by not selling tickets as the numbers spike, both the NBA and NHL have faced significant challenges.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported 36 percent of the NBA's officials are in COVID-19 protocols, which has forced the Association to turn toward G League referees as replacement options.

In fact, the G League has paused its season entirely so there are enough players and officials to replace those who are sidelined. The NBA has already postponed a number of games with players across the league out in part because of COVID-19, including Thursday's game between the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets.

Warriors star Draymond Green was not pleased with the latest developments:         

The NHL has also postponed a number of games and even paused the season earlier this month to give players an opportunity to get healthier. That decision came after the league and its players association temporarily suspended cross-border games between teams in the United States and Canada.

The Maple Leafs have not played since Dec. 14 and are scheduled to face the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 1. The Raptors lost to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday and are scheduled to host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.               

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet came up short of a triple-double in Saturday's 119-100 win over the Golden State Warriors, and he had a simple explanation as to why he didn't reach the mark, saying that he could sometimes be a little more selfish. 

"My teammates, they're not giving me the [Russell] Westbrook treatment where they get out the way and let me go get it. Might have to have a talk with them about that," VanVleet told reporters after the win. 

VanVleet finished Saturday's game with 27 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists in 33 minutes. He also had three steals and one block in the win. 

VanVleet has never had a triple-double in his career, while Westbrook has 189, which is the most in NBA history. However, Westbrook (973 games) has appeared in many more games than VanVleet (311 games).

Regardless, Westbrook has had almost full command of nearly every offense he has led throughout his career. In 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he averaged 23 points, seven rebounds and 8.4 assists per game. In his lone season with the Washington Wizards, he averaged 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 11.7 assists. 

In his one season Houston Rockets, he averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. And this year with the Lakers, he's averaging 19.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. 

VanVleet really hasn't taken full control of the Raptors' offense until this season, which is part of the reason why he has yet to record a triple-double. Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry drove the Toronto offense for nine seasons, including during VanVleet's first five seasons with the team. 

As VanVleet gets more time commanding the Raptors' offense, he'll surely tally his first triple-double. For now, he'll have to wait at least another game to get the opportunity.

The Raptors improved to 14-15 with Saturday's win, while the Warriors dropped to 24-6. 

Toronto Raptors star forward Pascal Siakam has entered the NBA's health and safety protocols.

The team made the announcement before Saturday's game against the Golden State Warriors.

Siakam was the subject of trade rumors this offseason. The Raptors found themselves in an interesting position in the summer, with veteran Kyle Lowry departing, young prospect Scottie Barnes being selected with the No. 4 overall pick and a mix of solid veterans in Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby already on the roster.

Were the Raptors rebuilding, retooling or gunning for another title? And if it was either of the first two, would players such as Siakam be shopped?

Ultimately, the Raptors held on to their star power forward, ostensibly with the goal of continuing to compete for a playoff berth in the short term.

They missed out last season, as COVID-19 regulations forced them to play their home games in Tampa Bay, Florida, rather than Toronto. That situation, combined with injuries, led to a disappointing 27-45 season.

Siakam had his own struggles, averaging 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and just 29.7 percent from beyond the arc. It was hardly a poor season, but it was a slight step back from his excellent 2019-20 campaign (22.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 45.3 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from three).

There's no question the 27-year-old is somewhat miscast as a top scorer, though Toronto has required him to fill that role since Kawhi Leonard departed as a free agent for the Los Angeles Clippers. Regardless, his loss will be a major one for the team to overcome as it battles for a playoff berth in the competitive Eastern Conference.

While he's out of action, look for Barnes to play a bigger role.

The Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators will limit home games to a 50 percent crowd capacity amid Ontario's new rules to combat the COVID-19 surge, per Sportsnet.

"This measure is being taken to reduce opportunities for close contact in high-risk indoor settings with large crowds and when masks are not always worn," the province wrote in a press release.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford offered more explanation for the decision in a press conference.

"Let's be very clear, you've got to target the largest venues," Ford said.

He also added: "Sports games, large concerts—people aren't masking as much as (organizers) implore them to mask. They all aren't masking. You're sitting side by side for hours. Compared to a restaurant, that's comparing apples and bananas as far as I'm concerned, not even apples and oranges."

The province unveiled the new rules Wednesday, and they will go into effect Saturday. They are in effect for all indoor venues that can hold 1,000 or more people.

COVID-19 cases have steadily been on the rise since Oct. 11, per the World Health Organization Coronavirus Dashboard. The week of Oct. 11 saw 2,822,302 confirmed cases worldwide, while the week of Dec. 6 had 4,253,897 confirmed cases.

The situation in Ontario mirrors the COVID-19 picture worldwide. Per the province's official website, there were 269 new cases on Oct. 26. That number has since jumped to 1,808 reported new cases on Dec. 15.

The Raptors were scheduled to host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, but that game has been postponed because of a COVID-19 outbreak within the Bulls roster. Therefore, the limited capacity mandate will begin to take effect on Saturday when the Golden State Warriors visit Scotiabank Arena.

Ottawa is out of town until Sunday, when the Sens host the Boston Bruins. The Maple Leafs' next home game is Dec. 23 against the St. Louis Blues.

Toronto Raptors guard Goran Dragic is stepping away from the team indefinitely because of personal reasons, general manager Bobby Webster announced Sunday. 

Dragic was involved in a sign-and-trade deal in August that sent him to the Raptors and shipped Kyle Lowry to the Miami Heat. At the time, the 35-year-old said he didn't want to play in Toronto, but it appeared the two sides worked things before the season began. 

However, the 2018 All-Star has appeared in just five games for Toronto this season and hasn't played since a Nov. 13 loss to the Detroit Pistons. He had been listed as a "did not play - coach's decision" on several occasions. He's averaging 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game this year. 

The 6'3" Dragic being sidelined doesn't necessarily have a huge impact on the Raptors lineup. Fred VanVleet starts at point guard, and he is backed up by Malachi Flynn. 

Toronto entered Sunday's game against the Boston Celtics with a 9-11 record, 12th place in the Eastern Conference. While they are somewhat better with Dragic in the lineup, there's probably not much he could've done to boost the team higher in the standings. 

Dragic has been a serviceable player over his 15-year career. He was most effective in his seven seasons with the Heat, averaging 16.2 points, 5.2 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game across 391 contests. 

In addition to the Heat, the Slovenian has also played for the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2021-22 campaign.  

Kyle Lowry signed with the Miami Heat on a three-year, $85 million deal this summer after nine seasons with the Toronto Raptors. 

Lowry told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated on Monday that it was the right decision for him and his family but that he'll still ultimately retire as a Raptor:

I still text [Toronto general manager Bobby Webster]. I still text [Raptors president Masai Ujiri]. There are no hard feelings. We've all had an open line of communication. And for me, it was very bittersweet because I never wanted to leave. But it was more a sense of: 'All right, my kids are getting older. I want to be somewhere where they can be stable no matter what.'

And, yeah, everybody says you could just live in Canada, but you'd have to get a Canadian citizenship to live there. And I don't think I would've lived there for the rest of my life. But I'll be able to go back. That's still home. Like I've said, and I'll say it now, I will sign a one-day contract and I'll retire as a Toronto Raptor. That is my everything.

It's been a good start to the 2021-22 campaign for Lowry and the Heat, who are 11-6 and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The veteran point guard is averaging 12.0 points, 7.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from three. 

The Heat have legitimate title aspirations. Lowry already won one with the 2018-19 Raptors. Getting a second championship ring before retirement matters to him.

"It's what we play for. If you're not playing to win the championship, what are you playing for? Just to be cool and be good?" he said. "We're going to get paid. That's awesome. I love getting paid, but I want to win the championship, and everyone that's won a championship will explain this and understand that this is a high you cannot match."