The Vertical Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks, a 20-year executive with the Nets, breaks down the Toronto Raptors’ situation as the Feb. 18 trade deadline approaches.

HANG UP IF THEY ASK ABOUT …

Kyle Lowry

Lowry, an All-Star, is having a career year. Under contract through 2017-18, with a player option for that season, Lowry has the friendliest contract for a high-quality point guard in the NBA. Still only 29 years old, Lowry is in the prime of his career and makes Toronto go.





DeMar DeRozan

The looming free agency of DeRozan should not be a cause of concern for Toronto.



The Raptors have a clear advantage over other teams this summer regarding DeRozan. They have the ability to recruit DeRozan while still under contract, have a competitive team and can offer more money and years. The familiarity of playing for the same organization is also a strong factor when July hits.

The rookie extensions

When you have players with upside on rookie extensions, you hold on to them.



View photos Jonas Valanciunas is a player the Raptors need to keep. (Getty) More

Betting on the futures of Terrence Ross and Jonas Valanciunas is a solid move. Ross, 25, has had his most consistent season since being drafted in 2012. The $10 million cap hit for Ross next season is a bargain. Valanciunas, also drafted in 2012, remains one of the better young big men in the league. Still only 23, Valanciunas gets better each season.

Denver or New York first-round pick

The chances of having a lottery pick and also being one of the better teams in the NBA does not happen often. With both Denver and New York heading to the lottery, the Raptors potentially could have a top-10 pick.



UP FOR DEBATE

Patrick Patterson

Even though his numbers are down, the sixth-year forward has appeal across the league. Under contract for the next two seasons at $6 million per, Patterson is a stretch power forward that many teams covet.





WORTH TALKING ABOUT

James Johnson

The long-term health of DeMarre Carroll could come into play when discussing the availability of Johnson. Although Johnson has provided good moments in Carroll’s absence, his expiring contract is an attractive piece if Toronto wishes to dangle him. The Raptors will not have cap space next season, so chasing a player under contract from another team is a viable solution.





Toronto’s own first-round pick

Having a lottery pick in May, as well as four young players on the roster in Lucas Nogueira, Bruno Caboclo, Delon Wright and Norman Powell, could make the Raptors’ first-round pick in June expendable. With close to 10 teams without a first-round pick, Toronto's pick could be an attractive asset.



NO-TRADE CLAUSE OR WITH A RESTRICTION

The rookie extensions for Ross and Valanciunas fall under the “poison pill” category. For trade purposes, teams wishing to acquire Ross or Valanciunas would use salaries of $8.6 million and $13.7 million, respectively, plus the applicable traded players exception. The salary numbers factor in the average of the players’ contracts in their fourth year and the extensions that were signed this year. Toronto would only be allowed to acquire salary of $3.5 million for Ross and $4.6 million for Valanciunas, the value of each player’s contract in the fourth year.



MOVE THAT PUSHES THE NEEDLE

Toronto, like Boston, is one of the few teams with the assets to make a deal that could change the playoff landscape this season. With the second-best record in the East also comes the dilemma of breaking the spirit of a tight locker room if a trade were to occur.



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