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Raptors reportedly showing interest in Pacers’ David West

By Dylan Hughes

Feb 11, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) drives past New Orleans Pelicans center Jeff Withey (5) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) drives past New Orleans Pelicans center Jeff Withey (5) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Raptors have been looking to upgrade at power forward. Is David West their top target before the trade deadline arrives?

The trade rumors have been swirling around the NBA and Toronto Raptors for some time now, and they continue to swirl on this fine Monday afternoon. It seems they want to upgrade at power forward, and that Indiana Pacers’ David West may be their top target.

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Zach Lowe of Grantland wrote about it.

"The Raps are listening to incoming offers on Ross, per several league sources, and a couple of power forwards on borderline playoff teams stand out as intriguing targets: David West and Kevin Garnett.Garnett would have to waive his no-trade clause, and he does not enjoy change. West is an even trickier case. He has been available off and on in exchange for a first-round pick over the last couple of months, per several league sources, but Paul George’s potential mid-March return could change Indiana’s deadline stance. The Pacers are three games behind the no. 8 slot in the loss column, with a relatively easy and home-heavy schedule the rest of the way. If George really comes back on March 14 in Boston, as Marc Spears of Yahoo relayed over the weekend, Indy would have him for 18 of its final 28 games."

Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders then confirmed Lowe’s report.

Kennedy also mentioned Toronto is willing to move shooting guard Terrence Ross along with center Jonas Valanciunas for a star, but West is most likely not the star they would be looking for.

If the Raptors were to part ways with Ross for West or another veteran power forward, it would show their true desperation to improve in order to possibly make a deep postseason run.

Toronto is 36-17 and second in the Eastern Conference, but apparently still don’t feel comfortable with their team as the trade deadline approaches.

For the Pacers, no one really knows what they will do. They are just 12th in the East, but since George Hill’s return from injury have been much improved and are still only two games out from a playoff seed.

Also, as Lowe mentioned, the possibility of Paul George returning this season may make Larry Bird want to keep this core together. While parting with West may only call for a small rebuild, giving it (the title) at least one more shot with this core may be in Bird’s plans.

But as Indiana has shown in the past, we usually don’t know what they are doing until it’s already done.

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