NBA trade chatter heats up during lengthy all-star break: There are no NBA games to worry about from Friday morning until next Thursday night in the longest all-star break in league history, and that thing about idle hands and the Devil’s workshop? Believe it. -- Toronto Star

Toronto’s the centre of NBA universe: So the Toronto Raptors are practicing in a university gym in Oakland, Mich., and players are being led by a team trainer to the downstairs workout room, and it’s Jerome Moiso’s turn. He’s a bit player, a chiseled, laconic Frenchman in the lost years after Vince Carter. -- Toronto Star

Charles Barkley has nothing but love for Toronto: The NBA’s all-star weekend has unofficially kicked off and so far, it’s a love-in. While the player’s availability won’t start until Friday morning and there were still a few games on Thursday night, much of the league has already assembled in Toronto. -- Toronto Sun

Raptors too good for bad losses now: All you had to do was hear the anger in Dwane Casey’s voice as he dissected a disappointing loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the eve of the all-star break to be reminded this isn’t like other Raptors years. -- Toronto Sun

Has hell frozen over? NBA finally giving Toronto its due: Dear NBA: Welcome to all-star weekend in Toronto. Hell hasn’t frozen over: It only feels that way. It’s nice of you to be here, really. To acknowledge we exist. We’re not used to that. Frankly, we’re used to you looking the other way, ignoring us. -- Toronto Sun

Raptors' superfan earns his charity stripes: In 1998, Isiah Thomas dubbed Nav Bhatia the Raptors’ “Superfan,” and it has stuck ever since. Now, almost 20 years later, Bhatia is sitting as the Raptors South Asian community ambassador and will be playing a large role in the NBA all-star festivities in Toronto this weekend — the first such event to be staged outside of the United States. -- Toronto Sun