According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Raptors are "growing increasingly comfortable" with the idea of keeping Kyle Lowry and trying to make the playoffs this year. Toronto's sudden surge post-Rudy Gay leaves them with a 17-17 record and better odds to make the playoffs in the weakened Eastern Conference than to wind up with the top pick in next year's draft. Raptors GM Masai Ujiri has wisely avoided locking his team into one course of action and a trade may yet be in the works, but it seems must less likely than it did a few weeks ago.