Toronto Raptors: Trade Deadline Analysis and Long Term Planning

The Toronto Raptors have won four out of their last 17 games. This leads to a 21-34 record. For a team that had expectations to not only make the playoffs, but make it past the first round this is a huge disappointment. Especially for a team that on paper has only improved from last year.

At the beginning of the season Bryan Colangelo said "Making the playoffs and losing in the first round isn't good enough." At this point the Raptors have to significantly improve their play if they want even this to happen. And history shows they don't.

If you look at the championships this year in sports there is a team that didn't make the playoffs the previous year in every single one. The last place Devil Rays, the lowly Cardinals, and another last place team the Celtics.

Being in the bottom ten teams in the league for two or three years isn't such a bad thing. This allows a team to get a couple early first round draft picks and build up a team for the future. 

Just ask the 32-19 Portland Trailblazers.

They got some solid first round picks in LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, and Greg Oden. I don't only speak for myself when I say I would rather watch my team come in last for three years then win the finals than losing in the first round four years in a row.

This is what the Raptors organization has to do.

First things first, fire Jay Triano.

He has a 13-25 NBA coaching record and this is not acceptable. Second of all, they should trade Chris Bosh. I realize he is the “Fathead player”*, but I don't see them making a deep playoff run in the next two years, and as the time on his contract runs lower, so does his value.  

They could also look into trading away players like Jermaine O'Neal and Jason Kapono who are overrated. I think the Raptors should invest in younger players like Jose Calderon, who has potential to be an All-Star next year. Anthony Parker, who will do a lot more for the team then what they can trade him for. Andrea Bargnani, who is continuing to grow into a player.

The best thing for the Raptors is if they came fourth last or lower in the league. Then they could get a good prospect in Stephen Curry or another young player.

The worst thing that could happen is that the Raptors come in eighth or ninth and get an average draft pick. You see teams that seem to get stuck in that position for three or four years and it is very frustrating.

The Raptors organization should stop fooling themselves into think they can make a run deep into the playoffs with the talent they have compared to the Celtics or the Cavaliers. The best thing the Toronto Raptors could do is look long term.

*Fathead Player: A player that there is a "Fathead" of or the star player of the team.