The Toronto Raptors have struggled of late, which has led to Dwane Casey to move Terrence Ross to the bench with DeMar DeRozan sliding to small forward and Greivis Vasquez starting at shooting guard.

Ross is not on the trading block, however, according to league sources.

“Absolutely  not,” one rival executive told Sporting News. “They still have a lot of belief in him and there is not much you could do to get him from them.”

The Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls are among four NBA teams that have shown an interest in swingman D.J. Kennedy, a leading candidate for the Most Valuable Player award in the top German league, sources told RealGM.

Kennedy, a two-way player at 6-foot-6, played in two games for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2011-12 season. He has since played overseas in Israel, France, Russia and now Germany.

The Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons have also reached out to Kennedy, a source said. With a deal for the remainder of the German season, Kennedy is a potential option for the summer and next season.

Kennedy started the year playing for Krasny in the Eurocup, averaging 19.2 points and six rebounds. Before Kennedy arrived to Riesen Ludwigsburg this season, the team ranked 11th place in the league. In averaging 21.1 points and 6.5 rebounds in 35 minutes a game, Kennedy has propelled the club into the playoff picture.

Kennedy, 25, went to training camp with Memphis and Dallas in 2012 and 2013. He played for Minnesota in the NBA Summer League last year.

Kennedy played his college basketball at St. John's, going unselected in the 2011 NBA draft.

Stephen Curry was the leading vote-getter for the NBA 2015 All-Star Game, beating LeBron James.

Western Conference Starters
Stephen Curry, Warriors
Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Anthony Davis, Pelicans
Marc Gasol, Grizzlies
Blake Griffin, Clippers

Eastern Conference Starters
John Wall, Wizards
Kyle Lowry, Raptors
LeBron James, Cavaliers
Carmelo Anthony, Knicks
Pau Gasol, Bulls

Voting Results

Western Conference Frontcourt

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans, 1,369,911
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies, 795,121
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers, 700,615
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, 546,817
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, 545,226
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers, 498,131
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings, 465,334
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets, 348,275
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, 292,557
Rudy Gay, Sacramento Kings, 144,702
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs, 132,150
DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers, 117,816
Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder, 107,223
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, 99,039
Tyson Chandler, Dallas Mavericks, 98,654

Western Conference Backcourt

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, 1,513,324
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, 1,152,402
James Harden, Houston Rockets, 1,069,368
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers, 551,167
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, 365,417
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors, 314,254
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder, 248,758
Rajon Rondo, Dallas Mavericks, 219,506
Jeremy Lin, Los Angeles Lakers, 216,246
Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies, 103,015

Eastern Conference Frontcourt

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, 1,470,483
Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls, 974,177
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks, 647,005
Marcin Gortat, Washington Wizards, 570,005
Chris Bosh, Miami Heat, 542,006
Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers, 386,208
Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors, 231,741
Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls, 203,718
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, 129,293
Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks, 121,938
Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, 114,955
Al Jefferson, Charlotte Hornets, 110,980
Kevin Garnett, Brooklyn Nets, 106,820
Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls, 103,645
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons, 86,717

Eastern Conference Backcourt

John Wall, Washington Wizards, 886,368
Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors, 805,290
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, 789,839
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers, 535,873
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls, 455,756
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls, 379,994
DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors, 159,123
Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks, 83,900
Lou Williams, Toronto Raptors, 82,135
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 55,014

The average NBA franchise valuation is now a record $1.1 billion.

There are now 11 NBA teams worth at least $1 billion, compared to three a year ago.

The Los Angeles Lakers lead the way at $2.6 billion, up 93% over last year. 

The value of the New York Knicks shot up 79% to $2.5 billion, ranking the team second overall.

Rounding out the top five are the Chicago Bulls ($2 billion), Boston Celtics ($1.7 billion) and Los Angeles Clippers ($1.6 billion).

6. Brooklyn Nets: $1.5 billion
7. Golden State Warriors: $1.3 billion
8. Houston Rockets: $1.25 billion
9. Miami Heat: $1.175 billion
10. Dallas Mavericks: $1.15 billion
11. San Antonio Spurs: $1 billion
12. Portland Trail Blazers: $940 million
13. Oklahoma City Thunder: $930 million
14. Toronto Raptors: $920 million
15. Cleveland Cavaliers: $915 million
16. Phoenix Suns: $910 million
17. Washington Wizards: $900 million
18. Orlando Magic: $875 million
19. Denver Nuggets: $855 million
20. Utah Jazz: $850 million
21. Indiana Pacers: $830 million
22. Atlanta Hawks: $825 million
23. Detroit Pistons: $810 million
24. Sacramento Kings: $800 million
25. Memphis Grizzlies: $750 million
26. Charlotte Hornets: $725 million
27. Philadelphia 76ers: $700 million
28. New Orleans Pelicans: $650 million
29. Minnesota Timberwolves: $625 million
30. Milwaukee Bucks: $600 million

The Toronto Raptors have one of the best offenses in the NBA despite not resembling many other top units stylistically.

The Raptors rank 29th in assist rate and 27th in passes per game with only the Los Angeles Lakers attempting more pull-up jumpers.

“We do get a lot of in-between shots,” said Dwane Casey. “But what kills the analytics geniuses is the fact that we get fouled enough to compensate. We take care of the ball. We get enough buckets, even if they are unassisted.”

“There’s not really a trickery to our offense,” Lowry said. “Our bigs set good screens, and we just make shots.”

“The old-fashioned thing — I don’t mind that at all,” Ujiri said. “I think it’s actually good for us.

“Do you know why it works?” Ujiri asks. “Nobody cares who scores. Nobody pouts if another player doesn’t pass. They just get on with it. I think that’s the secret to it, honestly. They just keep coming, and coming, and coming.”

The Toronto Raptors have an extra future first round pick from the Andrea Bargnani trade with the New York Knicks that they can flip to acquire an established player to improve their title chances this season.

The Raptors have an excellent offense but could use another rim protector on defense.

“You read about it and hear about the East, the East, the East,” Ujiri said. “And you have to think about it sometimes. Is this a rare time? Is this period — the next year or two — something we have to take advantage of?”

Ujiri was asked if the Raptors would consider dealing their first rounder ahead of the deadline.

“That’s a question I can’t answer,” Ujiri said. “It depends on what’s there. But I won’t make decisions that are going to shorten our growth and help us only this year.”

Ujiri prefers familiarity but he's clearly made many bold trades in the past.

“We favor building with our own players because we’ve gotten to know them,” Ujiri said. “And then adding accordingly.”

Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors and James Harden of the Houston Rockets have been named the NBA Players of the Month for December, the league announced.

Lowry averaged 22.3 points and 8.9 assists in 15 games in December.

Harden averaged 30.6 points, 7.1 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.

The Toronto Raptors have struggled defensively since Thanksgiving, ranking 27th in points allowed per 100 possessions in games played since then.

The Raptors are now a bottom-10 defensive team for the entire season.

Last season, the Raptors finished in the top-10 in defensive efficiency.

DeMar DeRozan is scheduled to return from his left thigh injury this coming Thursday.

DeRozan has missed the last 17 games for the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors are 13-3 this season with DeRozan in the lineup.

Bruno Caboclo has been recalled by the Toronto Raptors from the D-League.

Caboclo played just three games for the Mad Ants this season, where he averaged 4.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in his 13 minutes of action.