With SF Nicolas Batum unhappy in Portland and his services currently being dangled by the Trail-Blazers in a sign and trade deal, I sure hope Brian Colangelo is working those phones. Batum is only 23 years old and he plays a position which the Raptors greatly need a player of his caliber. The Raptors have pieces (Demar Derozan, one of Amir Johnson or Ed Davis, Jose Calderon) to offer, but I'm not sure if Batum is wanting or willing to play in the Great White North. Given his French background it wouldn't be unreasonable to think he'd feel right at home in a bilingual country. I realize that Toronto is not Quebec, it is however, ethnically diverse. With Batum in the lineup, the Toronto Raptors would be a force to be reckoned with. Let's say Colangelo managed to acquire Batum for SG D. Derozan, PF Amir Johnson and PG Jose Calderon. That would leave the Raptors lineup looking something like this:

C Jonas Valanciunas (A. Gray)

PF Andreas Bargnani (E. Davis)

SG Terrence Ross

SF Nicolas Batum

PG Kyle Lowry