Raptors' most likely avenue to upgrade frontcourt seemingly goes up in smoke

"The latest from Shams Charania reports that Paul is being sent to Toronto in a three-team deal, sending Ochai Agbaji's expiring deal to the Nets, along with a 2032 second-round pick and cash considerations. However, I hate the burst the bubble of any excited Raptors fans waiting to see the legend CP3 donning the chevron jerseys, but that seem to be the case."

"If not, expect Paul to be like PJ Tucker last trade deadline, when the Raptors eventually bought him out. And with that, the longstanding trade rumors surrounding Ochai Agbaji has come to an end. He ends up in Brooklyn, which is exactly where I assumed he'd end up, however, it doesn't result in the Raptors acquiring the asset I had in mind."

"For a while now, Agbaji's mid-tier $6.3 million contract has been one of Toronto's only appealing assets to trade on the market, in comparison to their long-term, expensive deals for guys like Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl. We've all heard the rumblings about rival teams not being interested in taking on either salary, but Agbaji was one of Toronto's few options to find a potential upgrade."

Chris Paul was sent to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team trade that moved Ochai Agbaji's expiring deal to the Nets, along with a 2032 second-round pick and cash considerations. The Raptors do not expect Paul to report and may continue to seek suitors or pursue a buyout if no team claims him. Ochai Agbaji's move to Brooklyn removes one of Toronto's few movable mid-tier contracts, which had provided a path to chase frontcourt upgrades. The completed trade functions as a cost-cutting measure to reduce luxury tax exposure and trims a rotation player. Frontcourt depth remains a pressing concern for Toronto.

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