Why the Raptors should make a win-now trade

After flaming out in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, the Toronto Raptors came into 2015-16 as an under-the-radar team.

Any hope of ducking the national spotlight disappeared, however, when the Raptors strung together an 11-game win streak in January. Their dominant run of play firmly established the Raptors as the second-best team in the East, and they're just one of five teams in the NBA to rank top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.

Despite their success, the Raptors still firmly remain a tier below championship contender status.

For one, the Raptors' starting unit is actually a net minus, which isn't particularly surprising when considering that they've started 36-year-old Luis Scola at power forward in every game. Their supercharged bench squad has done most of the heavy lifting against opposing second units, but that advantage will evaporate once rotations shorten in the postseason.

Secondly, the Raptors are still a two-man team with best friends Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan carrying the team on a nightly basis. That formula proved inadequate in each of the past two playoff runs, and regardless of marginal improvements made by both players, it's hard to foresee a notably different outcome when the book on beating these two is out.

It also doesn't help that the Raptors are riding them into the ground (fifth and seventh in minutes played this season). They need more help.

Fortunately, through two years of stockpiling, Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri has a fistful of assets in his wallet.

There are four raw prospects on the bench, two blossoming players on inexpensive extensions between Terrence Ross and Jonas Valanciunas, and four first-round picks in the next two drafts.

Even if Ujiri wanted to develop those players, there wouldn't be enough room on the roster. As is, the Raptors have five roster spots earmarked for player development, and that's put an incredible strain on their 10-man rotation to play extended minutes.

"Those extra picks over the next two years - we can't use all those picks. So (a trade) is always something you're looking at," Ujiri told ESPN's Zach Lowe.

That package doesn't quite stack up with Boston's bounty of future Brooklyn Nets picks, so they'll probably fall short of landing the biggest name, but it's still more than enough to fetch back what they need.

The goal for the Raptors would be to bundle together their future assets into a player who fits their current timeline. With Lowry (29) and DeRozan (26) firmly in their primes, their window to win is now.

Reports suggest Ujiri is already on the hunt: The Raptors were linked to popular trade targets P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris. Tucker would bolster Toronto's ragged wing rotation and Morris would offer an upgrade at power forward.

Other options, like Ryan Anderson, or perhaps even Al Horford (if he became available) would also be excellent targets. Both players would give the Raptors a dynamic option at power forward who could spread the floor with their shooting - something that the inconsistent Patrick Patterson and robotic center Jonas Valanciunas can't offer.

A legitimate power forward, or at the very least a capable third option behind DeRozan and Lowry, would pay dividends for Toronto's postseason push.

"It's cool to make the playoffs," Lowry told ESPN in January. "It's not cool to lose in the first round anymore. The goal is to make the Finals."

Strike while the iron's hot; with the right win-now move by Ujiri, the Raptors just might reach their goal.