The Toronto Raptors are going to be a team to watch ahead of February’s NBA trade deadline.
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, the Raptors “have been on the phones in recent weeks gauging the trade value of some of their players, including RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.”
As ESPN’s Shams Charania previously reported, two names to watch out for in that regard are Dallas Mavericks big man Anthony Davis and Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, though Barrett is under contract through 2026-27 and Quickley through the 2028-29 season. In general, the Raptors have a number of long-term contracts on the roster that could make them less appealing to trade partners.
“Toronto will have to incentivize real offers with draft capital,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN. “They’re going to have to work to avoid the second apron next year with their current roster.”
Toronto has all of its own draft capital for the next seven years, which helps in that regard, though how much of it they might be willing to part with remains to be seen. The Raptors are 25-17, fourth in the East, but it seems like they are more than one move away from competing with the top contenders like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks.
On the other hand, pairing Scottie Barnes with another star during the years he’s settling into his prime would make sense. That makes the Raptors an interesting team to watch over the next few weeks.
