The Toronto Raptors seem poised to make a monster move at the NBA trade deadline.According to well-regarded Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Raptors are finalizing a blockbuster deal to obtain centre Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies for Jonas Valanciunas, C.J. Miles, Delon Wright and a future second-round draft pick an hour before the deadline.Gasol, 34, is on a contract that pays him $21.1 million (U.S.) this season with a player option worth $25.5 million next year.The 7-1 Spaniard has spent his entire 11-year career with Memphis and averages 15.7 points and 8.6 rebounds this season. The three-time NBA all-star is shooting 34.4 per cent on 3-pointers in 4.2 attempts per game this season. Gasol won the NBA defensive player of the year award in 2012-13.Valanciunas, who was to return from a 25-game absence Thursday night, was aware of the possibility he’d be moved but was not worried about rumours.“Experience does that for you,” Valanciunas told reporters in Atlanta on Thursday morning. “I have been in rumours so many times I don’t even look at it. I just know one thing. We have a good team. We have a good future in front of us for this season so I just want to go on the court and play ball and win the games. That is what I want to do. I love Toronto and I want to stay there.”Valanciunas, 26, has spent his entire seven-year NBA career with the Raptors after Toronto selected him fifth overall in the 2011 draft. He’s averaged 11.8 points and 8.4 rebounds a game over his career. Later in the day, the Raptors dealt backup centre Greg Monroe and an undisclosed second round pick to the Brooklyn Nets. That leaves the team, for now, with five open spots on its 15-man roster.More to come. Read more: Raptors centre Jonas Valanciunas ready to return from dislocated thumbRaptors mull trade options after Sixers load up with HarrisOpinion | Doug Smith: Why the Raptors should do nothing ahead of NBA’s trade deadlineDoug Smith ...
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