Trade talks are bound to start heating up as the NBA’s deadline for moves on February moves closer and closer, and there is every chance that the Raptors will be players by then.

Although it seems unlikely that any big pieces will be moved there are players in the organisation who might just have to get their passports ready for a move back down to the United States.

Of the core of the Toronto line-up, only Jose Calderon would appear to be even a possible candidate for a trade, as you would have to hope that Bryan Colangelo would be telling suitors for Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani and (ideally) DeMar De Rozan where to get off even if they asked!

Jarrett Jack seems unlikely to be moved given his value to the team and Hedo Turkoglu’s long-term contract is highly unlikely to attract anyone after it was paid to a player who appears, on this season’s below-par figures alone, to have been overvalued.

Calderon’s value is a tough one to figure out when it comes to Basketball Predictions. An $8m contract for a pure point guard who was putting up All-Star numbers two seasons ago would seem to be perfect for any number of finals contenders, but he has been blighted by injury since.

Although he is now back in the rotation his value is nowhere near what it might have been but what exactly would the Raptors be looking for in exchange? Would it be a point guard swap, which seems to be the only thing really missing at the moment. But if so, wouldn’t it just be better to get Calderon back to 100% and take advantage of his skill set, something the team is used to.

Apart from DeRozan, who could bring a decent return but would be a tough sell for fans, it leaves the role players on the Toronto roster, with those on expiring deals (Amir Johnson, Antoine Wright, Rasho Nesterovic) most likely to be leaving.

Marcus Banks, earning $4.5m this year and next, seems set to stay with the Raptors but Reggie Evans could move out to a club seeking a defender with no scoring touch off the bench, if they can afford his $5m salary as part of a bigger deal.

NBA Betting expects Toronto to be looking for a decent defensive wing and not a lot more, as the recent run of results would suggest there isn’t an awful lot wrong with the team offensively at the moment. I’m sure there will be plenty of movement before February 18 though.

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