The Raptors are losing and DeMar DeRozan is tired. He is competing tirelessly, but he seems to be fighting a lonely battle.

The Toronto Raptors are still on its 'wait and see' mode. After 16 games, the Raptors are at the top of the Atlantic Division-which is nothing to be proud of considering they only have a 6-10 win-loss record and the division is the official model of the East's mediocrity.

DeRozan is a carry-over from GM Colangelo's era. They are the players whom new GM and former executive of the year awardee Masai Ujiri is strongly assessing, even though it was reported that anyone in the Raptors' roster is up for grabs, except for Jonas Valanciunas.

Those reports can take its toll on a player. It is also frustrating for a player who wants to win and hears rumors that the team is tanking. Professional sports is just not that simple anymore, but for a 24-year old who has taken too many losses, it is unacceptable.

In his interview with the Toronto Sun, "I'm frustrated, period. Just losing at home, man. I mean, I hate it. I hate it with a passion and we just have to figure it out and turn it around on the road."

There were issues of him and Rudy Gay taking too many shots. Unfortunately, Gay is not making them, with a dismal 38% field goal percentage. The young DeRozan has been taking the reins, and averaging 21.6 points per game.

The Toronto National Post has appealed that the Raptors trade DeRozan. The main point is that the management does not see DeRozan in their long-term future, trading him to a winning team for a first round pick would do both sides a favor. The best time to trade him is now, that he's still playing his heart out, that he's still averaging 20 points.

Also, if the Raptors plan is to build the future around Valanciunas, then they must design their plays for his development. That's something they can't do with the ball in the hands of both Gay and DeRozan on almost every possession.

Once DeRozan starts to whine and ask for a trade, Toronto loses its leverage. If they trade DeRozan to a Western team for their first round pick, there is still a chance of that pick ending up in the lottery. Minnesota, Denver, or even the East's Atlanta all need scoring help to make a playoff sun this year. DeRozan is definitely worth a mid-first round pick, even if it's in 2014.