According to Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo, they're not.

"I think it is fair to say that we are not content with our current position and we would explore any and all avenues of improving our team," said Colangelo via email. "However, none of our core players are being shopped. I have no deals of significance that are close to being completed or imminent, but later today we will announce a small tax-related deal."

Colangelo went on to say, in a subsequent conversation, that the Raptors are more than pleased with where Andrea Bargnani is developmentally, and that he has no idea where the ongoing rumors surrounding a trade for the former top overall pick in the draft are coming from. He has no interest whatsoever in trading Bargnani, not the Mavericks or anyone else.

Colengelo admitted that he has had frequent conversations with the Mavericks about a lot of different scenarios - including potential three-team deals - but that he would not be willing to include Bargnani in any such deal.

So while it's clear that the Mavericks are anxious to move Josh Howard, it appears the talk of the Raptors being involved are exaggerated at best.

Posted by djsunyc:

they should trade the bum: 25 pts, 4 rebs, 2 asts, 2 blks, 1 stl (8 of 9 shooting with 5 3's)


under d'antoni, bargs wouldn't be putting up 20+ppg, he'd be putting up 30+ ppg.

[Edited by - djsunyc on 01-07-2009 9:43 PM]