"For a while in the Raptors rumor mill, the team's name was being linked to a myriad of star sweepstakes - targets like Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Domantas Sabonis, Ja Morant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Of those names I mentioned, only two ended up on new teams (the same one, no less) - Young was dealt to Washington last month, and Davis was also traded to the Wizards yesterday."
"If you've kept up with my previous writings, you'll know that the talks of Toronto being serious contenders in these big-time sweepstakes took a new turn. According to reports from insider Michael Grange, the Raptors' higher-ups indicated a focus on evaluating how their current core can compete immediately, with plans to reassess in the summer. Additionally, the earlier reports that GM Bobby Webster was under intense pressure to make a blockbuster, win-now move were largely dismissed."
"Instead, Toronto's primary goal leading up to the deadline was to save money, with the expiring deal of Ochai Agbaji listed as the most likely move to achieve that - and they ended up doing so. Although, I'm sure Toronto would have liked to gauge rival teams' interest in taking on one of their major salaries, such as Immanuel Quickley or Jakob Poeltl, but reports indicated it would cost the Raptors' valuable draft assets - and the front of"
Toronto completed only two trades before the 2026 NBA deadline: moving Ochai Agbaji to create salary flexibility that brought Chris Paul to the books (with Paul expected to be waived) and acquiring Trayce Jackson-Davis from Golden State. The team opted for patience rather than pursuing blockbuster, win-now deals. Multiple star names were linked to Toronto in rumors, but only Trae Young and Anthony Davis changed teams, both going to Washington. Raptors leadership focused on evaluating the current core's immediate competitiveness and plans to reassess in the summer while protecting draft assets.
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