"Team-building is a moving target. So is the NBA's trade deadline. One minute, you're in the conversation for Domantas Sabonis or Anthony Davis, perhaps flirting with the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, or making calls on LaMelo Ball, and the next, you're using two second-round picks to get under the luxury tax, end the Ochai Agbaji experiment, and get a backup big man option in Trayce Jackson-Davis. What in the world does all of this mean for this season's Raptors team?"
"Despite speculation that the Raptors were looking to move RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, or Immanuel Quickley, the Raptors decided the price was too high to upgrade or shed salary at the deadline. Their lack of a true expiring contract outside of Agbaji limited their ability to be real players in the market for guys like Jaren Jackson Jr. or Anthony Davis, who went to rebuilding teams (more on that in a second)."
"The Raptors are a top 6 team in their conference despite missing their starting centre for nearly half the season and Barrett missing extended time with knee and ankle injuries. In spite of that, they have the sixth-best defense in the NBA, are middle of the pack in terms of net rating, Scottie Barnes is an All-Star, Brandon Ingram had a worthy case,"
Roster moves at the deadline were minimal: the Raptors used two second-round picks to move under the luxury tax, end the Ochai Agbaji experiment, and acquire backup big Trayce Jackson-Davis. The team declined to move core players or use a first-round pick for a centre due to high prices and a lack of expiring contracts beyond Agbaji. The Raptors sit top six in the Eastern Conference despite injuries to their starting centre and RJ Barrett. They rank sixth in defense, have a mid-tier net rating, an All-Star in Scottie Barnes, and improved offense versus recent seasons.
Read at Raptors Republic
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