The Toronto Raptors proved many analysts wrong by making the playoffs. They finished the season fifth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 46-36. Their last result was a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks 130-112 on 2025-01-18.
What happened?
The Raptors lasted seven games in the first round but were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers. If Immanuel Quickley and Brandon Ingram were healthy in the postseason, the Raptors could have made a deep run in the playoffs.
Why it matters for Toronto Raptors
The Raptors need to make changes to their roster to compete in the East. The New York Knicks are still the favorite to win the East next season. The Detroit Pistons, the Boston Celtics, and the Cavaliers are still going to compete next season.
What comes next?
The Raptors have to make trades to improve their roster. RJ Barrett's name has been in trade rumors all year. Barrett should only get traded if the Raptors can get an all-star-type player in return. | Player | Team | | --- | --- | | RJ Barrett | Toronto Raptors | | Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics |
The player whom the Raptors should look to trade the most is Jakob Poeltl. Even though he missed 36 games due to a back injury, Poeltl did not play well. He signed a four-year, $104 million contract extension last summer.
Who to trade?
A trade that could work is Poeltl, Gradey Dick, the 19th pick, and the 50th pick in the 2026 draft to the Dallas Mavericks for Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, and the 30th pick in the 2026 NBA draft. The Mavericks get to move up in the draft while getting another pick and a young prospect in Dick. This can entice Dallas to take Poeltl's contract since they are rebuilding around their young franchise player, Cooper Flagg. Toronto gets an upgrade at center while getting another three-and-D player. And that means Toronto could be around the Play-In spot along with teams like the Atlanta Hawks, the Charlotte Hornets, the Orlando Magic, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Miami Heat. So that's why the Raptors have to make changes to their roster. But who should they trade and who should they acquire? The Raptors can make another postseason run if they make changes to their roster. The offseason has begun, and the draft and free agency haven’t started yet, but teams can make trades and negotiate with their own free agents. Last result: Milwaukee Bucks 130-112 Toronto Raptors (2025-01-18). The Washington Wizards and the Indiana Pacers are going to be better thanks to the moves they made at the 2026 NBA trade deadline. That’s six teams that will be better than the Raptors next season. The Raptors were a surprise to many. Not many analysts thought Toronto would be a playoff team, but the Raptors proved them wrong. The Raptors have to make changes because the roster that is currently constructed won’t be able to compete in the East. A hypothetical deal could be the Raptors giving the Celtics Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Gradey Dick, the 19th pick in the 2026 NBA draft, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2030 lottery-protected first-round pick, and a 2032 first-round pick swap with Boston, having the most favorable while Toronto gets Brown and Luka Graza in return. If they do trade Barrett, Toronto should trade him for Jaylen Brown, since Boston missed out on acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo and offered Brown in exchange for Antetokounmpo. Brown could have asked for a trade since the Celtics were trying to trade him for Antetokounmpo. Another player that the Raptors should consider trading is Quickley. Quickley has been an inconsistent scorer this season. The Raptors need to make trades to improve their roster. The offseason begins, and the Raptors look to improve their roster through trades.
