DeMar DeRozan (10) against the Miami Heat in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Heat 99-91. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Raptors are good, but falling short in the playoffs. They need to upgrade the power forward, and NBA Rumors suggests they would trade point guard Kyle Lowry to do so

The Toronto Raptors are painted into a corner, needing a top power forward but with few available salary cap dollars to spend. The current word out now in NBA rumors suggests that Kyle Lowry could be had, perhaps in exchange for the Philadelphia 76ers Jahlil Okafor.

In the context of rumors, this may end up being just that. But the Toronto Raptors are disappointed in their playoff performance, so much so that rumors are beginning to swirl about the possibility of the team parting ways with DeMar DeRozan via free agency and Kyle Lowry via trade.

While no direct league source has placed Bryan Colangelo across the table from Masai Ujiri, there is speculation that Toronto is one such team that Bryan Colangelo knows better than most NBA rosters.

If that team is ready to deal, Colangelo would want in on it. You see, Bryan Colangelo brought both Lowry and DeRozan to the Toronto Raptors.

The first hurdle on this indirect linking is to establish interest of the Philadelphia 76ers to seek either player. Since DeMar DeRozan is a free agent, there wouldn’t be a need to bring the Toronto Raptors into the plans. But the Philadelphia 76ers could definitely have interest in Kyle Lowry. But this would be a unique situation, as the Raptors are seeking to return stronger to the playoffs, and any trade of Lowry would make the team weaker.

But Lowry is a nine year veteran point guard, and while his offense keeps going up. RIght now, the Toronto Raptors know that they have a huge hole to fill, and it’s at the power forward position.