Raptors weighing pre-deadline trade as tax concerns, roster balance collide
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The Toronto Raptors are expected to be active ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, multiple reports indicate. TSN’s Josh Lewenberg describes the odds of a move as “pretty high,” with the front office juggling competitive goals and a luxury-tax bill that currently sits less than $1 million over the threshold.
Wing surplus could prompt smaller deal
Toronto’s depth on the perimeter is a driving factor in potential trade talks. Lewenberg notes that swingmen Gradey Dick and Ochai Agbaji are among the names who could be moved in a modest, tax-saving transaction designed to even out the roster.
Poeltl viewed as core piece
Despite a stated desire for additional front-court help, center Jakob Poeltl is not on the market, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Poeltl, who signed an extension in the offseason and becomes trade-eligible Jan. 7, has been nursing a lingering back issue, per Lewenberg. The team’s preference is to find depth alongside him rather than explore a trade.
Level of aggression hinges on upcoming results
Fischer adds that Toronto’s appetite for a larger swing may depend on how the club performs in the coming weeks. The Raptors control all of their own future first-round selections, giving them flexibility should they pursue a more substantial upgrade.
Centers on the radar
Fischer reports the Raptors and Hawks have shown the most interest in Mavericks big man Anthony Davis, with Atlanta considered a longer shot. Lewenberg, echoing earlier reporting from Michael Grange, states Toronto has already inquired about Dallas center Daniel Gafford. Orlando’s Goga Bitadze has also surfaced as a possibility.
Star ambitions remain distant
Should elite talent become available, Fischer writes that Toronto would be interested in Domantas Sabonis or Giannis Antetokounmpo, though neither player is currently believed to be on the block.
The Raptors have four weeks to determine whether a minor tweak or a major strike best serves their playoff hopes and financial outlook.
Source: Hoops Wire
