Raptors must make a trade to take that next step as serious players in the East

In an Eastern Conference where the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, the Raptors figure to be in this convoluted grouping prone to experience swings in the standings from night to night.

The Raptors aren’t as good as their previous second-place standing and likely aren’t as good as the fifth-place ranking.

One win in Miami and the Raptors jumped into the No. 3 seed.

Considering the top nine teams in the East are all above the .500 level, there’s no telling how things will eventually shake out.

The Raptors can do themselves a huge favour by engineering a trade that adds a big and a shooter.

Ideally, both areas get addressed, two additions that would vault the Raptors into serious players for one of the top-four seeds knowing the Pistons and Knicks, barring injury, are in a class of their own.

Barring a trade, the following are five questions as the NBA is poised to celebrate its Christmas Day offering of hoops.

1. Is too much being asked of Brandon Ingram?

He has come as advertised and Ingram has hitherto stayed healthy, one of two players who have played in every game for the 16-11 Raptors.

Ingram is Toronto’s best scorer and its most versatile player when the ball is in his hands.

When it comes to creating his own shot against a set defence, Ingram is the player on the roster capable of getting off his shot. Therein lies one of the issues surrounding the Raptors and their long-term success.

Scottie Barnes has been good, but his offence is limited. Immanuel Quickley can score, but his half-court game has limitations.

Far too much is being asked of Ingram. It’s debatable whether anyone on the roster is capable of taking pressure off him.

2. What role should RJ Barrett serve?

As he inches closer to a return in the wake of knee injury, Barrett should be used coming off the bench.

In the NBA, it’s not who starts games, but rather who ends games.

In the NBA, ending quarters on a good note is optimal.

By now, everyone should be fully aware of Toronto’s bench and its lack of quality pieces.

Granted, players have shown an ability to step up at times, but no one believes this group is good enough against quality opponents.

Barrett, used off the bench, bolsters the second unit.

Regardless of the look of Toronto’s reserves, the book has been that one of Barnes or Ingram is on the floor when the bench gets used.

Having Barrett come off the bench only adds experience to the unit, which sorely lacks experience.

It’s worth a try, assuming Barrett is fully healed and is amenable to the role, even if it is on a temporary basis.

Necessity forced the Raptors to use Barrett as the de facto point guard last season.

3. What’s up with Jakob Poeltl?

One of the easiest and best ways to lessen the offensive burden off Ingram is to get Poeltl more involved.

Toronto ended its four-game losing streak in Miami on a night Poeltl had as many turnovers (4) as makes.

Only two times this season has Poeltl attempted as many as 10 shots.

His battle with lower back issues is one thing, but when he’s on the floor the Raptors need to put him in positions where he has double-digit attempts on a nightly basis.

Quickley is many things, but one thing he’s not is a traditional pass-first point guard.

Barnes is arguably the team’s best passer because of his ability to see the floor.

The ball needs to be in Barnes’ hands more often to initiate an offence in the half court.

Given he’s the only true big on the roster, Poeltl has shown to be irreplaceable.

Recently, his usage has been unacceptable.

4. Will the Raptors eventually pull the trigger on a big trade?

That’s one question that continues to remain unanswered.

In some quarters, the mere thought of adding an Anthony Davis or a Giannis Antetokounmpo seems preposterous.

The same people should ask themselves how precisely will the Raptors improve knowing this roster is flawed.

The issue might be pretty simple when looking at the prospective trade assets available to the Raptors.

Objectively speaking, neither Barnes nor Ingram should be sacrificed, leaving a cupboard that’s bare at best.

A healthy Tyler Herro makes Miami an infinitely better team, a healthy Cleveland roster makes the Cavs better, ditto the Sixers.

A move must be made by the Raptors at some point.

Failure may result in the Raptors competing for a play-in spot.

It would be wrong to suggest a healthy Barrett will cure what ails the Raptors, even though the team has done well, primarily by taking advantage of a soft schedule that saw Toronto win nine games in a row.

5. Are the Raptors really good?

The jury remains out on this group, despite the 16-11 start that has seen Toronto win eight games at home and eight games on the road.

A Thursday night date in Milwaukee against a Bucks team minus Antetokounmpo is a sure win.

A big test arrives Saturday when Boston makes its second visit to Toronto.

Two easy games loom with tips in Brooklyn and Washington sandwiched between a return visit to South Beach.

Regardless of what plays out in the next week or so, by now it should be obvious this roster is nowhere near good enough to compete with the NBA’s big boys.

Credit to the Raptors for taking advantage of a soft schedule, but toughness has been exposed when playing physical teams.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com