The NBA Trade Rumors are heating up. The Raptors are also making its bid to make the playoffs. They are favorites to take the Atlantic Division behind the stellar play of Kyle Lowry. Stellar, but not All-Star. Why do they want to trade him?

Most analysts see Kyle Lowry as the biggest All-Star snub. It was expected that he won't get the starters' fan vote as the Raptors did not really make a vicious campaign effort and Kyrie Irving is one of the most popular players in the NBA. However, his absence at the reserves, which represent the coaches' choices, was quite a stunner.

Or was it? Zach Lowe of Grantland shares the reason behind the snub:  

"You want a real snub? Travel east to the league's weaker conference, and take a gander at Kyle Lowry. His omission is one of the worst I can recall, and it's safe to assume the league's coaching fraternity is punishing Lowry for his well-chronicled run-ins with just about every coach he's come across in Memphis, Houston, and even Toronto. Lowry is second among all Eastern Conference guards in PER, and considering the tiny gap between Lowry and the top guy (Dwyane Wade), and Wade's 13 missed games, you could easily argue Lowry has been the best guard in the conference. John Wall, a deserving All-Star, is right there, but he's really the only other guy in the discussion."

After the Rudy Gay trade, the Raptors have played better, and Lowry is the key to their overall improvement. Yet, Lowry was never really taken out of the trading block, his stock just got higher. Is Lowry's off-court issue really that bad? Should Toronto trade him despite his obvious ability to lead the team? Experts say the Raptors should keep Lowry, at least for this season.

From J.A. Adande, ESPN: "Kyle Lowry's impending free agency diminishes his trade value ... and actually increases the consolation if the Raptors don't trade him. If there isn't a player on an absolute bargain of a contract coming back in a trade, might as well let Lowry walk and take $6.5 million off the payroll with him. Or the Raptors could use their Bird rights to re-sign a borderline All-Star."

From Tom Sunnergren, Hoop 76(via ESPN): "This is a strange situation. Lowry has been the best point guard -- maybe the best guard -- in the East this season, but the trade market for him seems tepid. Couple this with the fact that, at 26-22, Toronto already has done too much winning to make a run at lottery balls, and it looks as though the smartest play for Ujiri is to hang on to his catalyst."

If the Raptors let go of Kyle Lowry, they would have to take a chance and look for a replacement on the most important position in the sport (at present). Why not save time (and losses) by holding on to someone that's already producing?