The Toronto Raptors are expected to trade Andrea Bargnani before the end of the 2012-13 season.
One source close to the situation said Friday that Bargnani is "a lock to be moved."
Bargnani has two years and $22 million left on his contract.
March 2012 Toronto Raptors Wiretap
Kyle Lowry is comfortable coming off the bench if need be.
“Honestly, I just have to prepare myself to play, that’s all I can really do,” he said after a 90-minute practice Thursday afternoon.
“In all honesty, just prepare to play … I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, how I’ll react (to being back on the court) so I just have to prepare to play and if I do play, how I can help the team.”
With Jose Calderon as the starting point guard, the Raptors won five of seven games while Lowry recovered from a partially torn tricep muscle.
Lowry will make his return Friday when Toronto takes on the New Orleans Hornets.
“It’s no issue whatsoever,” said coach Dwane Casey. “We’ve explained it to him, whether he plays second unit, starts, it’s as a team. We talked about it, we talked about it as an organization … and not only for Kyle but for everybody. That’s the only way we can have organization and not have chaos, we have to do it as a team.
“We have to have discipline, everybody has to know their role … and go from there."
Jonas Valanciunas is expected to miss four to six weeks while he recovers from a broken ring finger on his right hand.
"He saw a hand specialist," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "But he doesn't have to have surgery and that's the main thing, the positive out of the whole thing. It's unfortunate because again he was getting in a good little rhythm, getting some rest, not playing as many minutes, but then this setback."
Aaron Gray and Amir Johnson are expected to fill the void in Valanciunas' absence.
Valanciunas was averaging 7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds.
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Pistons by a final score of 97-91 to win their fourth straight game.
“There’s a million different ways to win or lose a game and right now we’re finding the ways to win and that’s the most important thing for our group,” said Dwane Casey.
“Now we’re believing we can win, we trust each other, we believe in each other, we’re pulling for each other.”
The Raptors' four-game win streak is their longest since November of 2010.
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Tristan Thompson with the No. 4 pick of the 2011 NBA Draft instead of Jonas Valanciunas.
"We were interested in (Valanciunas), obviously, when he was coming out in the draft," Byron Scott said. "He's going to be a heck of a basketball player. He has the length and the size. He can shoot the ball from 14, 15 feet. I think he's a very skilled big man."
The Cavaliers couldn't get a read on the buyout situation of Valanciunas with his former Lithuanian club.
"With last year being a lockout situation, we knew it would be just as beneficial for him to play over there," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "It was a short-term setback for a long-term investment."
Jose Calderon has been outstanding for the Toronto Raptors over their past two games, correcting course on what had been a disappointing season to date.
“I made up my mind, I want to be the guy, I’m here, this is my team,” said Calderon.
“I’m going to go out there and be the guy asking for nothing. I want to win with this team until somebody says something different, it doesn’t matter how long I’m on the court, it doesn’t matter how many minutes I play, I’m here to help my teammates and help this team win games.”
Calderon has long been the subject of trade rumors.
Bryan Colangelo summoned senior advisor Wayne Embry to meet with Toronto Raptors' ownership this week, according to sources.
The meeting is said to have gone well, but the 4-19 Raptors are said to be evaluating options.
Trade scenarios involving Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon are on hold with both Bargnani and Kyle Lowry injured, according to sources.
The Toronto Raptors have recalled Quincy Acy from the Bakersfield Jam.
Acy was assigned to the Jam on December 6. He appeared in three games, averaging 12.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 21.7 minutes. He posted his highs of 18 points, five rebounds and 23 minutes in his debut December 7 at Reno.
Acy has appeared in three games with the Raptors. He has played 21 minutes, averaging 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds.
Andrea Bargnani is out indefinitely with an injured elbow.
X-rays Bargnani had on the elbow on Monday were negative.
Dwane Casey said that Bargnani's absence will create an opportunity for Ed Davis to prove himself.
Amir Johnson has received a one-game suspension from the NBA for throwing his mouthpiece at a referee in Monday's loss.
Johnson is averaging 7.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game this season for the Toronto Raptors.