After wide speculation of who the Raptors would try to acquire, they finally got the trade they needed.
With just under 24 hours left before the NBA trade deadline, the activity has seen the biggest spike of the season today around the league. The biggest trade coming by way of 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis being moved at the deadline for the second-straight season, this time to the Washington Wizards to join four-time All-Star Trae Young.
One of the most active teams ahead of the deadline is the Toronto Raptors, who were heavily linked to acquiring Davis over the past day. Their first priority has been to shed salary in order to be under the luxury tax, but a third star to join Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram has also been highly anticipated.
Former Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis (3) |© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Trading away one or two of either RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl has been the ideal way to maneuver the best of both worlds. Acquiring a star like Domantas Sabonis has been strongly considered to achieve this, but to this point, that has not been completed largely due to Toronto’s unwillingness to include a first-round pick (via Chris Haynes).
After a move has been long-awaited to be made for the Raptors, general manager Bobby Webster finally pulled the trigger on a deal.
ESPN’s Shams Charania announced that the Toronto Raptors have agreed to a three-team deal with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. The Raptors will move Ochai Agbaji and a second-round pick to Brooklyn, while acquiring 12-time All-Star Chris Paul.
Last July, the 11-time All-NBA selection signed to rejoin the franchise with which he spent six seasons during his prime. The Clippers parted ways with Paul on December 3rd, after not seeing eye-to-eye amid a 5-16 start to the season. After not playing in LA for two months, the former No. 4 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft will prepare to return to NBA action.
However, Charania also reports that the Raptors have told Paul not to report to Toronto. Webster’s intention was not to add the former superstar point guard to the current roster, and he will look for another trade before the deadline or waive him if no deal is made.
While this may not be the blockbuster trade Raptors fans were hoping for, it was exactly what Toronto needed to avoid paying the luxury tax penalty. There is still one day left before the trade deadline, so there may be more to come for Webster and the Raptors. Simultaneously, it has been reported that the key Raptors pieces have the desire to see the season out with their current core, so a big-time acquisition may not be realistic until at least the offseason.