For weeks, the Toronto Raptors have been widely considered to be the team that will control the trade deadline and that appears to still be the case now that were mere days away from February 9th.

"The whole league is in a circle around the Raptors, watching what they're going to do," said Brian Windhorst.

The Raptors are in a position to trade multiple players that could help shift the balance of power among title contenders, particularly OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. The Raptors are widely expected to not consider trading Pascal Siakam. 

"To me, the whole deadline pivots on the Raptors," said Windhorst.