Some rumours in the weeks leading up to Thursday's NBA trade deadline connected the Toronto Raptors to big names, including two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the team ultimately settled on smaller moves.
Instead, the Raptors shipped bench guard Ochai Agbaji out to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team deal that sent future Hall of Fame guard Chris Paul to Toronto - though he is not expected to report, and the deal will ultimately serve to shed Agbaji's contract and get the Raptors out of the luxury tax. Toronto also acquired depth centre Trayce Jackson-Davis from the Golden State Warriors.
Raptors general manager Bobby Webster joined First Up on TSN1050 Friday morning to discuss the muted trade deadline for the Raptors and the expectations for the team moving forward this season.
"We got under the luxury tax with the Ochai trade and then we got under [the tax bracket] enough that we could go out and get some front court help. So we were able to get Jackson-Davis from Golden State," Webster said. "We're happy with where we were, we didn't chase a couple of the bigger deals that I know were out there, but the time will come for that."
The Raptors (31-22) sit fifth in the crowded Eastern Conference standings entering play on Friday. The Detroit Pistons (37-13) hold a 4.5-game lead over the second-place team in the conference, but just four games separate the second-place New York Knicks (33-18) and the sixth-place Philadelphia 76ers (29-22).
With starting centre Jakob Poeltl still nursing an injured back that has kept him out of the lineup for over a month, the Raptors' most glaring need for roster improvement at the trade deadline was in the front court. Targets around the league included Antetokounmpo, Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings and Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies - who was ultimately traded to the Utah Jazz for three first-round draft picks and four players.
"By the time we got to Thursday, we did the Agbaji trade Tuesday, we did Jackson-Davis Wednesday, so we have Thursday free so we [could] kind of make some fun calls and see what was out there," Webster said of the timeline of the trade deadline negotiations. "But nothing came close to the deadline. I think there was a couple of things on Monday and Tuesday [that] we felt were bigger deals that maybe put us in a different group, but the price got a little too rich for us."
Webster revealed that he didn't even know who the Raptors were acquiring in the deal that shed Agbaji's contract with the Nets.
"It was a salary move," Webster said of the Agbaji deal. "So Ochai makes about $6 million and Chris makes [$2 million] and I think early in the season he sort of made his plans known and so in many ways it was a just a contract. I actually didn't know who we were getting back in the deal. They just said a minimum player and they got me back on the phone and said Chris Paul.
"So yeah, the fan of me was like, oh, Chris Paul, you know? One of my favourite players, but no, we will not see him in the [lineup in Toronto]."
Webster could not provide a solid timeline on a potential return to the lineup for Poeltl, who has been out of the lineup since Dec. 21 and has appeared in just 21 games so far this season. The team is 13-8 in games in which Poeltl played this year.
"We're hopeful," Webster said of a potential return for Poeltl. "Again, this feels a bit different. And as he ramps up and it's tough, you know. I'm not a seven-footer with a sore back, so it's hard to know what that feels like, being in the weight room and working out and then getting to the court and having other seven footers and 250 pounders lean on you. So I think that's where we are. But if we can get him back, I think people have seen over the years how important he is to the Raptors playing winning basketball."
Toronto is seeking its first trip to the playoffs since the 2021-22 season. Webster wants to keep the team grounded with just 29 games remaining on the schedule, even with a three-and-a-half game cushion on a potential play-in spot.
"We haven't accomplished anything," Webster said. "I think the first two-thirds of the season has been great, 31 wins is more than we had last year. Brandon [Ingram] and Scottie [Barnes] have really driven it, [Immanuel] Quickley has been really good of late, and we've seen some nice surprises off the bench with Jamal [Shead] and Collin [Murray-Boyles].
"So you know lots of lots of things to be happy about. I think we know in this league and pro sports it's [about] what happens when it's crunch time. So we'll have a great 30 games here to finish this season," Webster said. "Hopefully it ends up in the postseason, whether that's the play-in or playoffs, I think [it's a] great experience, great time for us to evaluate the players."
Credit is due to head coach Darko Rajakovic, who earlier in the week was named the head coach of the International Team at next week's All-Star Weekend - the third Raptors coach to be named a head coach at All-Star weekend.
"Darko is doing to great job of keeping the energy, keeping the cohesion," Webster said. "I think people see from the outside, there's a really good vibe and energy on the team. So yeah, things are trending in the right direction, but I think you do have to finish this off. As they say, 'you gotta finish your breakfast' and we gotta get to where we plan to be. Generally, all systems going, we've been happy with what we've done so far."
Toronto has two games remaining before the All-Star break, with their next game against the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 8 before a potential measuring-stick game against the Pistons on Feb. 11.
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