The Raptors play only three more times before the NBA’s all-star break.

When they reconvene for a home game against the Boston Celtics on Feb. 24, it will be a day after the trade deadline. The current group might be strong enough to return to the Eastern Conference final (almost surely against defending champion Cleveland), but the past five weeks or so have made that seem far less likely than it did back in December.

Various Raptors said Thursday that while they would welcome some help, they don’t feel it is a necessity. President Masai Ujiri and his staff have been cautious, last completing a deal 20 months ago.

So if you are betting, a move seems unlikely. However, this group could use an upgrade, especially with key forward Patrick Patterson’s wonky knee potentially impacting his production for weeks to come. Here are five players that would help:

Serge Ibaka – $12.25M. UFA 2017

Long connected to the Raptors due to his closeness with Ujiri, past Toronto interest and his versatile two-way game, Ibaka has not fit in in Orlando as expected. The Magic gave Oklahoma City a lot to grab him last summer, but aren’t expected to be able to get that kind of value back now, with Ibaka set to hit free agency in search of nearly twice as much money a season on a long-term deal. Opponents shoot worse at the rim against him than they do ex-Raptor Bismack Biyombo, and only two years ago, shot just 40.7% at the rim against Ibaka, an elite mark. Does the 27-year-old have enough left to add him to the core moving forward? You’d likely have to part with Terrence Ross in any Ibaka deal both to appease the Magic and to ease future cap concerns.

Paul Millsap – $20.0M UFA 2017

The ship appears to have sailed on Millsap. Atlanta entered Friday only 0.5 games behind the Raptors and Washington for a top 3 spot in the East and has said Millsap is off the block. Even Atlanta dropping every game until the break might not change that. He’s also getting up there in age, declining and due for a monster salary. The asking price was massive a year ago when the Raptors aggressively pursued a deal. Add up all of that and keep in mind that Kyle Lowry will be getting a huge raise of his own and bringing Millsap north might be too rich an endeavour for Ujiri’s blood.

Taj Gibson - $8.9M UFA 2017

Another Toronto near-acquisition from years past, Gibson is a rugged rebounder and defender with a limited offensive game. Chicago is still in the playoff hunt, but could use some young assets with the team’s future path uncertain. Gibson is better than Jared Sullinger, a lot like Amir Johnson and would be a nice fit. DeMar DeRozan’s former USC teammate would up the compete level on the team and shore up the rebounding issues. He will be 32 in June though, so would likely be a rental. Making a deal work would be tough money-wise. Sullinger and a first (the Raptors have two late picks this summer) doesn’t work, but Sullinger and a prospect like Delon Wright would. That seems like a short-sighted idea though, unless Gibson sticks around, which can’t be guaranteed now.

Trevor Booker - $9.2M/$9.1M UFA 2018

Not as sexy a name, but Booker is in the Gibson mold. Big, tough, competitive, with a more varied outside game and slightly less effective defence. He’s also a couple of years younger with far less mileage than Gibson. The fact he has another year before entering free agency is also enticing. Booker attacks the boards ferociously at both ends and Toronto could use some of that doggedness. Again though, making the money work in any deal would be a challenge. Cory Joseph and a first would work. The Raptors still love Joseph but have Wright and Fred VanVleet waiting in the wings behind Lowry and Joseph could opt-out after next season.

Wilson Chandler - $11.2M/$12.0M/$12.8M (player option) UFA either in 2018 or 2019, his choice.

Ujiri brought him to Denver in the Carmelo Anthony deal years ago and knows him well. Chandler has been a solid two-way player when healthy. He’s battled injuries, but was in the lineup all last year for the Nuggets and has done the same in 2016-17. He is in the midst of one of the best campaigns of his career, shoots about as well as Ross, but can play three positions, is a sneaky-good rebounder and a better and more aggressive defender. Would a straight swap make sense for both sides? Or would the Raptors want more given Ross is 3.5 years younger and signed for an extra year (assuming Chandler opts-out in 2018)?

Worth a call: Courtney Lee, Richaun Holmes, Tyson Chandler, P.J. Tucker, Ed Davis, Derrick Favors, Marcus Morris.

Salaries via basketballinsiders.com