NBA roundtable: Which team desperately needs to make a trade?

The 2023 NBA trade deadline is just a few days away!

Teams have between now and Thursday at 3 p.m. ET to wheel anddeal. For some teams, there's a bit more urgency to make a trade.We asked our Basketball News writers:

Which NBA teamdesperately needs to make a trade?

Alex Kennedy: The Toronto Raptors have been oneof the biggest disappointments this season, as they are currently24-30 (which is the 12th-best record in the Eastern Conference).They have a number of talented individuals on their roster, but thepieces just aren't fitting together. Recent reports have indicatedthat Toronto isn't sure whether to be a buyer or seller prior tothe trade deadline, but it's clear that standing pat isn't anoption.

Will the Raptors part ways with O.G. Anunoby, who's been one ofthe top players surfacing in trade rumors? Will they move FredVanVleet and/or Gary Trent Jr. before they can opt out and hitunrestricted free agency this summer? Will Masai Ujiri try torestart talks with the Brooklyn Nets on a potential Kevin Durantblockbuster? All eyes will be on the Raptors over the next fewdays.

Nekias Duncan: I think the Toronto Raptors arethe obvious answer here, so I’ll set them to the side. It’d be niceif the Miami Heat could do something here. It may not be big-gamehunting — they’ve been mentioned on the periphery of the KyrieIrving sweepstakes — but more reliable depth would help them.

Caleb Martin is in the midst of a career-year, but it hasn’t hitlike it could because he’s a bit overtasked at the 4. The depthbehind Bam Adebayo has been shaky; I’ve liked the play from Orlando“Big Lando” Robinson, but his play being *this* importantunderscores how dire it’s been for the Heat. Any deal that couldland them a bigger 4 could balance things out, especially if that 4could moonlight as a 5 in small-ball lineups.