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[Toronto Raptors]

The Raptors risk wasting season with struggles against zone defences

The gravitational pull of the NBA’s play-in tournament is calling out to the Toronto Raptors. And it may be too late to escape its reach if the Raptors can’t salvage the four games that remain in their west coast road trip.

The Raptors (25-19) are currently one game ahead of the seventh-seeded Orlando Magic and only hold a four-game advantage over the 11th-place Chicago Bulls. Toronto doesn’t have a great history of coming back from its trip out west with a winning record. It’s realistic for this team, especially as they continue to navigate through their injuries, to experience a downward spiral in the Eastern Conference by the end of their business trip.

The challenges remain relentless, with the next hurdle in the gauntlet being the Golden State Warriors.

Tip-off is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. EST on Sportsnet for Canadian viewers.

Here are three storylines to consider ahead of the contest.

Three-point woes​

The Raptors’ inability to knock down shots from beyond-the-arc is hurting them. While it’s always been a concern when trying to construct a roster around Scottie Barnes, the need for shooters has become especially important since the acquisition of Brandon Ingram.

Golden State is averaging 16.2 three-pointers (1st) on 36.5 per cent efficiency (10th) this season. It’s important that Toronto breaks out of its shooting slump to help neutralize the home-run ball.

Teams have traditionally gone to zone against the Raptors over the last few years. But it’s shockingly embarrassing how often soft coverages have been deployed in the last month. Opponents don’t respect Toronto’s perimeter shooting and the stats support their reasoning.

The Raptors rank last in the league in three-point efficiency at 33.6 per cent. Since Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic replaced Nick Nurse, the team has finished in the bottom percentile from the perimeter. They shot 34.8 per cent last season (23rd) and 34.7 per cent in 2023-24 (27th).

After going 6-for-37 (16 per cent) against the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 12, the Raptors are 28-for-93 (30.1 per cent) over the last three games.

Expect the Warriors to go into zone anytime the Raptors’ offence looks like it’s gaining confidence.

Warriors eager to come out and play​

Since their dramatic 141-127 overtime loss to the Raptors on Dec. 28, the Warriors are 9-3. They have also won their last four games by an average of 19.5 points.

Jimmy Butler’s season ended when he tore his ACL against the Miami Heat on Jan. 20. Stephen Curry continues to serve as the game-breaking engine of the Warriors’ offence, but Butler (alongside Draymond Green) has alternated with contributing memorable performances. In Butler’s absence, the team’s auxiliary pieces need to step up. Fortunately for Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, they’ve been an integral reason for their recent good fortunes.

Brandin Podziemski is averaging 16.6 points on a blistering 67.8 per cent shooting during the Golden State’s three-game win streak. He’s also contributing 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals in this stretch. Podziemski hasn’t scorched the net like this since mid-December, when he finished six straight contests with double-digit scoring.

Moses Moody is also finally realizing the potential the Warriors saw when the organization drafted him with the 14th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. Moody is averaging 15.6 points per game over the last three contests. He’s having a career-season in points (10.6), three-point percentage (39.2 per cent), steals (0.9) and blocks (0.6). Moody’s production as a three-and-d type of wing has helped offset Buddy Hield’s inconsistency and the drama of Jonathan Kuminga.

CMB down​

While Jakob Poeltl (back) and RJ Barrett (ankle) are expected to miss the game, it’s Collin Murray-Boyles’ inclusion on the injury report that might be the most significant narrative thread.

Murray-Boyles’ defensive prowess for a rookie is abnormal. On the surface, his six-foot-seven frame and non-elite athleticism don’t look threatening for someone moonlighting as a centre. But for a team without a true big man in its lineup, his intimidating presence and defensive genius are what have held this team together, particularly during the offence’s cold stretches.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-g...g-season-with-struggles-against-zone-defences

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Quickley drops career-high 40 as Raptors beat Warriors 145-127

Three-point shooting has been a major need for the Toronto Raptors this season, who are shooting the worst percentage in the league. But that was not nearly the case tonight.

The Raptors’s offense erupted in Chase Center Tuesday night, fuelled by a red-hot 21/34 shooting night from beyond the arc and crisp ball movement that resulted in a season-high 42 assists on 51 made field goals. Leading the charge was Immanuel Quickley, who tied his career-high 40 points along with 10 assists on 11/13 shooting. Scottie Barnes also had a great performance, putting up 26 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists on 12/18 shooting.

The Raptors finished with a season-high in points, beating the Golden State Warriors 145-127, and are now 1-1 to start their five-game Western Conference road trip.

The game was a true wire-to-wire win, with the Raptors jumping out to an early 10-0 lead and holding a double-digit advantage nearly the entire game. The impressive effort came despite yet another short-handed effort: Toronto was without two of its starters in RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl, and two of its rotation players in Ja’Kobe Walter and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles.

As a result, head coach Darko Rajakovic went with a new starting lineup for the eighth consecutive game, this time with Gradey Dick getting his first start of the season.

The Warriors, meanwhile, had injury woes of their own. While they entered the game on a four-game winning streak, this was their first contest since Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending torn ACL that has dramatically altered their hopes of making noise in the postseason.

Indeed, the Warriors started the game looking like a team that had just gotten bad news. The Raptors were not simply hitting their shots, but they were also out-running and out-passing the Warriors out of the gate. The Warriors’ defensive rotations were slow in the halfcourt, and they offered little resistance in fastbreak and even semi-transition defense.

Meanwhile, Butler’s absence allowed the Raptors to hone in on Stephen Curry, who generally had one of Jamal Shead or Ochai Agbaji glued to him throughout the game. Curry is averaging 27 points per game this season, but managed just 16 points and three assists against the Raptors. (Butler’s absence also meant that Warriors coach Steve Kerr freed Jonathan Kuminga from purgatory; Kuminga, who hadn’t played since December 18, put up 20 points and five rebounds.)

Quickley’s career night got off to a quick start, going 3/3 on threes halfway through the first quarter.

Jamison Battle played some solid minutes off the bench. Barnes did an excellent job playing off the attention Battle commands off-ball as a shooter. On one play, Barnes drew a defender’s attention by looking at Battle on the perimeter – then fired a no-look pass to Agbaji under the basket for two easy points.

The Raptors finished the first quarter with a 41-28 lead.

That lead was blown open as the second quarter wore on and the Warriors looked even slower, their helpside defense even more absent. Sandro Mamukelashvili hit back-to-back threes, AJ Lawson and Jonathan Mogbo found easy buckets in transition, and Quickley hit his fourth three (on as many attempts) to extend the lead to 59-31. The Raptors were not only getting easy looks by pushing the ball off turnovers and misses, but even off of made baskets.

The Warriors brought the lead down to 20 heading into halftime. But Toronto grabbed the momentum right back, playing some of their strongest basketball of the game to start the third quarter and taking a 30-point lead.

That stretch included another pair of threes for Quickley, who made his first six threes of the game. Quickley was dangerous as a catch-and-shoot threat – a threat which we’ve seen be further unlocked when Quickley plays alongside Jamal Shead, who scored 10 points and eight assists. Quickley also had a nice lefty and-one layup off a dribble hand-off from Barnes – and the team followed that possession by forcing the Warriors into a 24-second shot clock violation.

Meanwhile, the Raptors’ best sequence of the game came on a 2014 Spurs-esque possession in which all five Raptors touched the ball, ending in a Brandon Ingram three in the corner.

This ball movement from the Toronto Raptors is just absurdpic.twitter.com/UJeVKsAYpR

— Hot Hand Theory (@HotHandTheory) January 21, 2026

Ingram provided his usual injection of necessary shot-making, scoring on a mix of catch-and-shoot threes and tougher mid-range looks that helped supplement the offense, albeit during a rare game that had practically no dry spells. He finished with 22 points, four boards and five assists.

But with Curry on the bench, the Warriors finally displayed some energy and fought back, going on a 29-13 run that brought the Raptors’ lead to 104-90. The same defensive breakdowns that had plagued the Warriors were now hitting the Raptors, who allowed easy transition buckets, plus a Kuminga layup to end the quarter after he ran the full length of the court right past the defense.

The Warriors managed to tighten the lead to just nine points about halfway through the fourth quarter. But the Raptors were able to survive the onslaught of Buddy Hield threes thanks to timely shot-making by Barnes in the mid-range, and clutch three-pointers by Ingram and Mamu that put them up by 15.

Mamukaleshvili finished the game with 14 points and 12 rebounds, including a couple of offensive rebounds that helped extend key possessions in the fourth.

Dick, in his first start of the season, shot ⅖ from beyond the arc, which was a promising return to form in a season where he’s shooting just 30% from three.

While Dick’s shooting night was a promising return to form, the team’s offensive performance as a whole would be more aptly described as a remarkable display of shot-making and togetherness. Sure, the 62% three-point shooting is an unsustainable clip. So was their 22/22 night from the free throw line. But the buzzing ball movement, which contorted the defense and led to assists on four in every five buckets? That’s something this team can keep up.

The Raptors and Warriors entered the game with identical 25-19 records. This was the first night of a back-to-back for the Raptors, who are now 26-19, and are set to take on the 12-32 Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-s...reer-high-40-as-raptors-beat-warriors-145-127

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Toronto Tempo announce inaugural season schedule

The Toronto Tempo will play their first-ever game on May 8, 2026, at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto. The news comes as part of their full season schedule drop, as the entire WNBA announces a 44-game 2026 season. Yet, as exciting as this news is, it still comes with a lot of question marks. The WNBA still has yet to come to terms on a Collective Bargaining Agreement, meaning the 2026 season is yet to be guaranteed.

Due to things like the need to start selling tickets, securing bookings for travel, arenas, and logistics, there was a need to make this happen on the league side. So, as exciting as this is, especially for Tempo fans and Canadian WNBA fans, take it with a grain of salt. There has been little news on the state of WNBA negotiations, and the league and players seem to disagree on basically every public negotiation point so far.

Disclaimer aside, the Toronto Tempo’s opening year has a lot of exciting things in store. Their first game is at home and is one of the first games of the WNBA’s 30th season, on opening night. As previously announced, the WNBA will play two home games in Vancouver, those are scheduled on Aug. 21 (vs the Portland Fire) and 23 (vs the Las Vegas Aces). The Tempo also announced two home games in Montreal last year, which are on July 10 (vs the Dallas Wings) and 12 (vs the New York Liberty).

Those Montreal games have the potential to break single-game WNBA attendance records, as well. The Bell Centre lists its basketball capacity at just over 22,000, and the current WNBA record is 20, 711, set at an Indiana Fever vs Washington Mystics game in 2024.

The Tempo will also play three home games at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the home of the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs. Those games are on June 27 (vs the Phoenix Mercury), July 30 (vs the Minnesota Lynx) and August 18 (vs the Indiana Fever).

The rest of Toronto’s home games will be played at Coca-Cola Coliseum, their primary home venue. While that arena holds just over 8,000 fans, all of the other arenas they will play home games in have capacities of 19,000 and above.

It’s our moment, Canada.

The Toronto Tempo 2026 inaugural season schedule has landed and we can’t wait to have you cheer us on every game, home and away.

Sign up at the link in bio to register your interest for ticket access. pic.twitter.com/u4S26XNhMJ

— Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) January 21, 2026

There will also be a break in the WNBA season from Aug. 31 to Sept. 16, as the FIBA World Cup takes place in Germany. Most of the WNBA’s players will likely be leaving their club teams to go play for their international federations, something that is a big priority for most of these players.

After the FIBA break, the WNBA will come back and play one more week of the regular season before the playoffs start.

“Today’s schedule release marks another milestone in bringing Tempo basketball to life. Our inaugural season will showcase the energy, talent, and competitive spirit that this city deserves,” said Tempo General Manager Monica Wright Rogers in a press release. “We’re excited for fans across Canada to experience the WNBA in a brand-new way and to see our team take the floor in historic matchups throughout the league.”

Now, we wait to see when a resolution comes regarding the CBA negotiations.

The full Toronto Tempo schedule can be found here.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/wnba-news/49193/toronto-tempo-season-schedule-games

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Raptors head to Sacramento for second night of back-to-back

The Toronto Raptors are fresh off one of their best performances of the season, a 145-127 win against the Golden State Warriors – despite being down four rotation players – in which Immanuel Quickley dropped a career-high 40 points and 10 assists.

Now, they’ll be shorthanded and on short rest as they take on the Sacramento Kings, who are 14th in the Western Conference and, like the Raptors, on the second night of a back-to-back.

The Kings, led by a 2018 All-Star team of Zach LaVine, Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan, had shown some signs of life earlier in January despite an injury to Domantas Sabonis, winning four consecutive games – the first three of which came against the Rockets, Lakers and Knicks. But the 12-32 Kings have come back down to earth with consecutive losses.

The game is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET on TSN.

Here are some storylines to follow.

A new start(ing lineup)​

Thanks to a flurry of injuries, and aided by the team’s deep roster, head coach Darko Rajakovic has started a different five-man lineup in eight consecutive games. Last night’s new unit included Gradey Dick, who was making his first start of the season. Unlike the Warriors, Sacramento has a fair bit of size; All-Star center Sabonis is back, though he’s played on a minutes restriction off the bench since returning. 7-foot-1 rookie Maxime Raynaud has started in his place. The Raptors went super small against Golden State, starting Quickley, Jamal Shead and Dick together, alongside Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes. They may opt for a bigger lineup tonight – but with Jakob Poeltl still out, and Collin Murray-Boyles likely out with his thumb injury, it’s slim pickings.

Former Raptor report​

The Sacramento Kings are bad in many respects. But there’s one advanced statistic according to which they are a top team in the NBA: Rate of Any Player That were Openly Raptors (RAPTOR). The main driver of their high RAPTOR rating is DeMar DeRozan, the 36-year-old who is Toronto’s all-time leading scorer and co-built the We the North era with Kyle Lowry. DeRozan’s numbers are down a bit this year, though his efficiency is up: He’s average 19 points, 3.3 rebounds and four assists on 50.8% shooting and a 35.9% clip from three. Meanwhile, former Raptor Precious Achiuwa has been starting for the Kings, and is averaging 7.6 points and 5.5 boards, while Dennis Schröder is averaging 12.7 points and 5.6 assists off the bench. The Raptors’ “Former Kings report” includes Garrett Temple, who played in Sacramento on a 10-day contract in 2010.

Worth a shot?​

Thanks to some paltry shooting efforts, the Raptors have found themselves stymied by zone defenses as of late, leading to somewhat of a roster construction crisis (though things would certainly look a bit different with Walter and Barrett healthy). That crisis seemed like a distant memory last night, when the Raptors shot 21/34 from behind the arc. Will their shooting juice continue on the second night of a back-to-back? Will tired legs prevail? And, importantly, will Kings coach Doug Christie dare the Raptors to find out by running a zone defense?

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-g...o-sacramento-for-second-night-of-back-to-back

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Raptors willing to part with several starters in trades

A few days ago, we talked about what the Toronto Raptors could do at the deadline. Knowing Bobby Webster, but actually knowing his mentor Masai Ujiri, tells us that it’s a real possibility for the Raptors to not do anything spectacular at the deadline. Instead, they could wait for the summer to make moves. Yet, there is that little possibility that Webster starts his tenure as leader of the Raptors with a bang and makes a big trade before Feb. 5th’s deadline.

As Josh Lewenberg of TSN reports, the Raptors seem willing to part with more than one of their starters. Webster has apparently been on the phone with several other teams, tossing around possibilities, and doing what Lewenberg calls his “due diligence” on checking in on several targets around the NBA. This is definitely a move reflective of Masai’s tactics — staying extremely informed but not necessarily doing anything. It’s why the Raptors usually end in a ton of trade reports this time of year, because the Masai-now-Bobby method usually involves picking up the phone and having a chat about literally every player whose name is floating around. It’s less about wanting to make a move and more just knowing what options are out there in case you decide you might want to make a move. Something Lewenberg details in his reports as well. We all know the deal in this front office by now.

Can you see why I hate the trade deadline now?

Another good point Josh makes above is that sometimes these little check-ins turn into something more — take Brandon Ingram a year ago. I would have been one to tell you there’s no way the Raptors pull the trigger on that one, and they did. Mind you, the price ended up being lower than expected, which was nice. Another thing about Masai and Bobby — they know how to negotiate.

Now, another thing Lewenberg says is that if the Raptors don’t make a move at the deadline, its more because their “hands are tied” than anything. Makes sense, given their maybe most valuable asset is an injured Jakob Poeltl. The new-ish part in Lewenberg’s reporting is that the Raptors seem to be willing to part with any or all of Poeltl, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley. Take this with a grain of salt, though, as the Raptors aren’t ones to leak themselves, and these speculations are more coming from other teams’ sources. As we all know, it’s these players (well, their salaries) that are the most valuable in trades for Toronto, and also prevent the Raptors from making any big signings now or in the summer.

If I had to make an educated guess, I would say Quickley was the most likely to be moved at the deadline, if anyone does get dealt. I would say Poeltl, yet his precarious injury situation doesn’t make me as confident that teams will bite. With Barrett, I’m sure it’s not off the table to include him in the deal, but it would have to be the right deal. If Barrett is traded this season, it’s because it’s the only way the Raptors get their top choice guy, in my opinion. He also still has a year left on his contract, so it’s a big undertaking for any team trading for him.

The Raptors are reportedly willing to part with RJ Barrett, per @JLew1050

“TSN can confirm that Toronto appears willing to part with some combination of Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett, or at least that’s the impression that rival teams have gleaned from… pic.twitter.com/7rrchjY0Ny

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 22, 2026

As I mentioned in last week’s update, most of the players that maybe would have been Toronto’s big targets (Young, Davis, Sabonis) are either gone, too expensive, or hurt. Or multiple of those options. We’ll have to see if anything comes up in the next few weeks as teams head into the final days before the deadline.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/nba-trade...-poeltl-barrett-quickley-davis-sabonis-rumors

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Toronto makes it three straight with win against Trailblazers

The Toronto Raptors continued their West Coast road trip tonight against the Portland Trailblazers. Leaving the Moda Center with the win, the Raptors have now won three in a row and have successfully swept the Blazers in the season series with a final score of 110-98.

The Trailblazers have been playing well so far in the calendar year, going 9-2 prior to this matchup. They weren’t necessarily an easy target, but a myriad of injuries benching Williams III, Avdija, Reath, Murray, Thybullle, and Henderson have had a cumulative effect. The Blazers were held to a season-low 12 points in the first quarter, and struggled offensively all night as a result.

Despite the loss, Canadian Shaedon Sharpe continues to have a career season for the Blazers. The combination of his speed, strength, and shiftiness allowed him to get basically anything he wanted on the offensive end. He finished with 21-7-4. Toumani Camara helped along the way, one of the few Blazers who were able to consistently connect from 3-point territory tonight. Clingan helped protect the boards and chipped in with 13 points and 16 rebounds.

The Raptors took a little while to settle in and had their own difficulties offensively tonight, but were able to overcome tight defence and shooting struggles by dictating the pace of the game. They navigated the Blazers’ size easily, getting out in transition and screening cutters to allow them to get shots inside. Despite missing CMB, Walter, and Poeltl, they held their own.

RJ Barrett returned to the lineup, doing a decent job in his first game back with 10 points. Ingram had a slow start but thrived in the second half to finish with 20-7-3. Quickley had another solid game as well with 20-8-7. Mamu shone in his tenth start of the season, leading the Raptors with 22-6-4. This is his second 20-point-performance in a row for the first time in his career. While not as big of a box score contribution, Gradey and Ochai both had solid 10 point performances and did a lot of the little things defensively.

NONE OF THAT pic.twitter.com/OjZsECOLOn

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 24, 2026

In the first quarter, both teams struggled offensively. Toronto’s ball movement was good, allowing them to get lots of open shots, but the majority of them were left at the rim, starting 6-16. At the same time, they were giving up a lot of second chance opportunities, but Portland wasn’t able to capitalize, shooting 2-20 from the field and committing 4 turnovers early on.

Quickley didn’t let Clingan’s foreboding 7’2” presence on the inside deter him. He used his speed and shiftiness to create space and cashed in on floaters. He scored 9 of the Raptors’ first 12 points. Mamu was able to cash in a couple of long-range shots in the frame as well.

The last two minutes of the quarter were broken up by fouls, with neither team able to gain any momentum and ending with the Raptors up 19-12.

The defence holding Portland to 2-20 from the field to start pic.twitter.com/agkul6UYtq

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 24, 2026

Portland was able to smooth out their offense within a few minutes of the second quarter starting, forcing the Raptors into a timeout and some lineup changes. Scottie wasn’t getting calls and two early fouls found him on the bench. Quickley and Mamu continued to carry the scoring load, looking for someone else to contribute.

Ingram was finally able to break through the tight Blazer defence and find the bottom of the basket, but couldn’t get much else going. Meanwhile Sharpe, Clingan, and Camara came alive, carrying the offense for Portland and bringing them within a single possession of Toronto.

Toronto answered with an 8 point run. Gradey carved his way into the paint to lay the ball up and then cashed in a long range shot on the next possession. A putback by Barrett to close the frame had them up by 7.

Touggggh lay from @gradey_dick pic.twitter.com/p6YSVk6qdc

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 24, 2026

Halftime proved to be beneficial for both teams. The Blazers showed a zone defense and were able to get some two-man action going with Clingan. For Toronto, Ingram started to get going, finding his shots early from all over the floor.

Unlike the first half, the Raptors and Blazers scored easily. Portland tied things up and scoring went back and forth for most of the third quarter. Ingram made shots and found his way to the line while Love and Camara highlighted. Despite holding a brief lead, the Trailblazers couldn’t maintain it.

Ochai and Gradey quietly contributed at both ends in the third quarter as well, topped off by a fun lob pass from Gradey to Ochai for the finish, allowing the Raptors to hold a one-possession lead.

OCHAI UP THERE SOMEWHERE pic.twitter.com/4FNQ1GCW7s

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 24, 2026

Toronto came out with force in the final frame, cleaning up some of the sloppy perimeter defence that had been plaguing them throughout the game and getting the ball moving offensively to get easy shots.

Jrue Holiday was the answer for Portland, making shots from all over the floor to try and keep Portland alive, but each time he made a basket, Toronto was able to keep pushing ahead. An 8-0 run early, followed by a 7-0 around the midway point of the quarter kept them afloat. Scottie’s decision making late in the frame was excellent, finding cutters, the open shooter, or even finding his own shots when he liked his matchup. Defensively he was great as well, with 6 total blocks, including 2 in the final seconds.

Portland fought to the end, but the tandem of Barnes and Ingram down the stretch gave Toronto the win.

Next, Toronto completes their road trip on Sunday against another team led by a Canadian in the Oklahoma City Thunder with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Tune into TSN at 7pm ET to catch all the action.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-s...-three-straight-with-win-against-trailblazers

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Late game execution earns the Raptors another win

For the fifth and final game of their road-trip, the Toronto Raptors faced the Oklahoma City Thunder, clinching their fourth-straight victory, to the tune of 103-101. This was the first of their two contests this season, but Oklahoma City hasn’t lost at home to Toronto since 2022, a streak that the Raptors have now finally been able to break.

This matchup was tight from start to finish, with neither team able to build much of a lead. Ultimately the late-game defensive heroics of Scottie Barnes secured the win for the Raptors.

After a phenomenally strong start to the season (24-1) the Thunder have slowed down significantly, going 13-8 in the games that followed. Like many other teams at this stage of the season, they are battling injuries, missing Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, and Isaiah Hartenstein among others from their lineup. Despite being shorthanded, the Thunder put on another performance to be expected of the reigning NBA champions from top to bottom.

Headlined by the dynamic performance of Canadians Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort, their defence, ball movement, and shooting helped pave the way for their whole lineup. As a Canadian, it’s fun to watch them play well… except against Toronto… Shai finished with 24-3-6 with a steal and a pair of blocks while Dort had 19-8-2 along with two steals. Kenrich Williams and Aaron Wiggins also had strong performances off the bench.

Across the court, Toronto’s controlled ball movement was crucial for them from start to finish. Only 2 turnovers in the first half that didn’t lead to a single point for the Thunder was a key to this game. It wasn’t for lack of passing though, with many of their assists occurring in transition or tight to the basket through the defence. Their placement and execution were instrumental, highlighting the Raptors’ continued developing chemistry.

SCOTTIE RJ pic.twitter.com/z9E2tIxBSy

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 26, 2026

It was another all-around effort from the Raptors with six players in double figures. Immanuel Quickley had another excellent road performance with a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double while shooting 6-10 from long range. Scottie had another almost triple double with 10-10-8. His biggest contributions were defensive though, as he continues to make a case for defensive player of the year. He added a steal and three blocks to his growing defensive numbers, with a level of intensity in the stretch that sealed the game’s outcome for Toronto. Shooting only 3-8 would be enough to deflate many players, but there was no dip in effort for him and it paid off.

IQ came out strong from the opening minutes of the game. He scored an early 9 points in only 6 minutes of action, along with a pair of rebounds due to his aggressive energy on the defensive boards. His scoring was crucial for the Raps as no one else was able to really get much going.

IQ opens it up with a pic.twitter.com/yLdTKpzRmL

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 26, 2026

Ingram struggled against Chet Holmgren’s length, managing to shoot only 2-7 from the field while looking a little uncomfortable throughout the first. Despite shooting only 39% from the field collectively in the quarter, the Raptors were down only 5 points.

Toronto settled in to start the second, utilizing a combination of high screen and rolls and drop-off passes at the rim to catch up and periodically lead in a back-and-forth with the Thunder. Ingram was able to operate more easily in the absence of Holmgren, cashing in 6 points quickly.

pic.twitter.com/4zY5zngH9z

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 26, 2026

The Thunder were able to get ahead with their superior 3-point shooting led by Lu Dort and Isaiah Joe. Toronto’s ball movement and transition play allowed them to outscore OKC by 9 in the frame to hold a 54-50 lead on the way into the locker room.

The Raptors were able to sustain their lead for much of the third quarter, held onto with solid defence. The help was active and they were able to get extra deflections and touches on the ball that denied Oklahoma City opportunities. Scottie continued to struggle from the field, but even more so with the whistle. Committing his fourth foul sent him on the bench, while OKC lost Jaylin Williams for the remainder of the game after a tough fall while trying to draw a charge.

Shai began to look for his own shot now, with Walter and Shead both struggling to contain him. Toronto worked to find a solution for the zone defence the Thunder showed intermittently but were able to stay within a possession by the close of the quarter.

JAMAL FOR THREE AT THE BUZZER pic.twitter.com/icdOHyqVLh

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 26, 2026

In the final frame it took only a couple minutes for Scottie to earn his fifth foul and return to the bench. In his absence, the bench was able to keep them in the game with Dick, Shead, and Walter all contributing.

Walter continued to evolve in his assignment of Shai, fighting to deny him the ball on every possession. The Raptors worked hard, doubling him at times to try and force what was left of OKC’s bench to make shots. In the final minutes, they relied on IQ to make a pair of big 3-pointers from the same spot in back to back possessions.

As with much of the season, their late-game execution was solid, holding a single-possession lead with half a minute left in the game. A massive block by Scottie earned Toronto the ball back, and after Shead missed a pair of free-throws, he came up big again to tip the rebound out where they retained possession of the ball and IQ could convert the free-throws. They let the last few seconds run out, played disciplined defence to avoid fouling, and walked off the floor with another win.

WHAT A PLAY BY SCOTTIE BARNES

RAPTORS WIN IN OKLAHOMA CITY! pic.twitter.com/RBtuIG1Stc

— NBA (@NBA) January 26, 2026

Next, the Raptors will return home to face another tough competitor in the New York Knicks, hoping to keep their win streak alive. They will have an extra day to rest and help with lingering injuries to the lineup. Tune in Wednesday at 7:30pm on Sportsnet.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-s...-game-execution-earns-the-raptors-another-win

 

[JJ]

OH MAN the Raptors are COOKING right now! Four straight wins including beating the defending champs in OKC?! That's what I'm talking about!

Look, I gotta be honest - as a Bills fan I'm supposed to hate everything Toronto but I can't help but respect what they're doing on this road trip. Quickley dropping 40 against the Warriors and then following it up with consistent performances? Dude is BALLING. And Scottie Barnes with those clutch defensive plays at the end of the Thunder game - that's the kind of stuff that separates good players from GREAT players.

Now about these trade rumors... Webster better not do something stupid here. I get that they're kicking tires on everything - that's smart front office work - but trading RJ Barrett or Quickley when they're playing like THIS seems insane to me. The whole "hands are tied" thing with Poeltl being hurt makes sense though. Hard to sell high on a guy who can't even play right now.

The Tempo news is pretty cool too I guess. Canadian basketball expansion is good for the sport even if I think the WNBA needs to get their CBA sorted out before anyone gets too excited about schedules and ticket sales. Breaking attendance records at the Bell Centre would be pretty sick though.

Knicks coming up next - that's gonna be a BATTLE. New York ain't gonna lay down like some of these other teams. Let's see if this win streak has any legs on it!

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Can Scottie Barnes win Defensive Player of the Year?

Darko Rajakovic wears many hats.

As the Head Coach, he takes his leadership seriously, stands up for his players, and is always open and forthcoming. As an Offensive Coordinator, his system which encourages multiple passes and cuts has resulted the Raptors finishing in the top 7 in assists in each of his first two seasons (and currently 2nd this year). As a Defensive Coordinator, Darko’s schemes and rotations have boosted the Raptors from the 17th-ranked defense last season to 4th, as of this writing.

after holding the thunder to 7 points over the final 5 minutes of last night's game, the raptors now own the best crunch-time defensive rating in the league at 96.4. they're doing this without a single player taller than 6'9. pretty incredible

— Joe Wolfond (@joey_doubleyou) January 26, 2026

One hat I did not think Darko would wear was that of a psychic. Back in October 2023, before his first game as Head Coach, Rajakovic proclaimed, “I think one day he’s going to be Defensive Player of the Year. That’s something he wants to be, that he wants to develop into, and I’m going to do everything in my power to help him on that path.” (You can disregard the heaps of praise he bestows on Dennis Schroder. That definitely does not fall into the ‘psychic’ category, but the ‘head coach’ category of Darko’s hats)

Rajaković backed Scottie Barnes as a future Defensive Player of the Year while also reminding reporters not to forget about Dennis Schröder’s defensive skillset: pic.twitter.com/rRNrmcBVAx

— Adam Laskaris (@adam_la2karis) October 24, 2023

Barnes has been a revelation this year. Not the kind of revelation where a player comes out of nowhere to shock everyone, but a revelation to the rest of the NBA. Scottie has been a defensive menace throughout his five seasons in the league. However, playing for lottery teams in each of the last two seasons, preceded by two seasons under Nick Nurse where he wasn’t fully unleashed has kept Barnes’ defensive reputation at bay. Locally, Raptors fans are well aware of what Scottie brings to the table defensively, night in and night out.

This season has been an endless stream of defensive highlights. From blocking LeBron James in the final minute of a tie game, to blocking Collin Sexton to secure a victory over Charlotte, to blocking a potential game-tying mid-range attempt by Chet Holmgren, Barnes’ defense has become a regular fixture in Toronto’s game recaps. Not only is he saving the Raptors, but also looking out for people’s health! What a saint!

Scottie Barnes is a man of the people.

When the Blazers score 100, fans get free McDonald's. So not only did Scottie Barnes stop Yang and Love from getting the Blazers their 100th point, he also stopped 17,438 at the Moda Center from developing heart disease. GG Scottie. pic.twitter.com/qjKlftH9tb

— Pensare Basketball (@PensareBBall) January 24, 2026

The stats match what the eyes see. Scottie Barnes’ name is all over the defensive stats pages. Barnes is (big inhale):

• #1 in total stocks
• #1 in blocks in the 4th quarter
• #1 in blocks in the clutch (under 5 minutes, margin within 5 points)
• #3 in defensive win shares
• the only player in the NBA with at least 60 steals AND 60 blocks

The individual numbers only paint part of the picture of Barnes’ impact. Check the last sentence of the first paragraph again. Your eyes do not deceive you. The Toronto Raptors have the 4th-best defense in the league! The team’s other above-average defenders have either been injured (Jakob Poeltl), inconsistent (Ja’Kobe Walter), or have only started to play more minutes (Collin Murray-Boyles). Jamal Shead has been solid, but nowhere near the impact of Barnes.

Scottie’s DPOY case only becomes stronger when considering Poeltl’s been out since mid-December. The Raptors have played 18 games without a true Center…..and its defensive rating has increased!

The current buzz around Barnes is nice to see, but Raptors fans know it will take a lot more than stats and highlights to win over the voters. Let’s take a look at the 3 players with better DPOY odds — Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama, and Rudy Gobert.

I think this is the highest Scottie has been on the DPOY odds ladder.

Chet getting too much credit for OKC’s defense? Will Wemby qualify for the 65 game threshold? Rudy is Rudy.

At the very least, first-team all defense should be a lock for Scottie B. pic.twitter.com/UDhjgc5Ep4

— Armen Zargarian (@armenzarg) January 26, 2026

Chet Holmgren: Teamwork makes Chet’s dream work

The case for Chet is clear as day: he’s the anchor behind the league’s best defense. Holmgren ranks #1 in defensive win shares, #2 in defensive rating, and #3 in blocks per game. The individual numbers, combined with the potentially record-breaking defensive numbers — the gap between OKC’s 105.4 defensive rating and 2nd-place San Antonio’s 108.6 defensive rating would be the largest margin in NBA history — justifies Holmgren’s place at the top of the betting odds.

However, take a closer look at the rankings and their may be a kink in his armor. Just behind Chet in the defensive win shares standings is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2nd), Cason Wallace (4th), and Ajay Mitchell (8th). In the defensive rating list, Holmgren is followed by Wallace (3rd), Mitchell (7th), SGA (10th), and Lu Dort (13th). Is it a stretch to think that Wallace, who ranks 1st in total steals and 3rd in steals per game, might steal some votes from Chet? Is the Thunder’s defense more of a collective effort rather than an individual? If Chet misses a game, there are still 3-4 other premium defenders ready to pick up the slack! (That group doesn’t even include Alex Caruso, 2-time All-Defense, or Jalen Williams, who was on last season’s All-Defense team)

Also, if the voting came down to Scottie vs. Chet, Barnes might have a leg up.

SCOTTIE’S BLOCK FROM EVERY ANGLE pic.twitter.com/moYMrb9sjG

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 26, 2026

Victor Wembanyama: Out of this world and out of the running?

The case for and against Wemby is set for the next decade (assuming the league keeps the ridiculous 65-game rule): if Victor is healthy enough to play the minimum number of required games, he should be the favourite to win DPOY. Every. Single. Year.

As it stands right now, Wemby has missed 14 games already this season. If he misses 4 games or more the rest of the way, he will be ineligible for the award.

Rudy Gobert: Sure but why?

Outside of citizens from Minnesota and France, who can tell me why Gobert is in the ‘favourites’ tier with Holmgren and Wembanyama?

Minnesota’s 10th-ranked defense is lower than Toronto. Gobert ranks lower than Barnes in defensive rating, defensive win shares, and defensive box plus/minus. Rudy doesn’t have the same defensive demands since he plays alongside 2 wings, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels (Did I double-check I had the right McDaniels? You’ll never know.), who are better defenders than any Raptor other than Barnes. So, Gobert is more deserving than Barnes because he averages 2.9 more rebounds and 0.2 more blocks? Is this a legacy thing? Make it make sense, oddsmakers!

Is Barnes ready to buck the trend?

The obvious theme between Holmgren, Wembanyama, and Gobert is that they’re all paint-devouring, rim-protecting Centers. From Bill Russell to Hakeem Olajuwon to David Robinson to Shaquille O’Neal, the Defensive Player of the Year award has defaulted to big men for as long as the honour has existed. But in the current NBA, when switching and rotating and scrambling are the name of the defensive game, there’s nothing more valuable than a player who can defend all 5 positions a perfectly as Scottie Barnes.

He already has a better case than Gobert. He outperformed Holmgren — both statistically and visually — in a matchup that will stick in voters’ minds. He is 4 more missed games from not having to worry about an alien. Scottie Barnes has the statistical profile, the eye-popping highlights, and is gaining traction as this year’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Darko the Psychic has a good ring to it, don’t you think?

just adding to clutch tape pic.twitter.com/ChH8cXwn30

— Jamar Hinds (@jamarbh) January 26, 2026

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-a...-barnes-case-for-defensive-player-of-the-year

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Raptors’ west coast success could change trade plans

The 29-19 Toronto Raptors are currently the 3rd-best team in a wide-open Eastern Conference, but things aren’t the same over the in the West. It’s pretty obvious that the Western Conference poses the biggest threat to take home this season’s NBA Championship, but who makes it from the Eastern Conference is up in the air. After a plethora of injuries have left the East in a wonky position, the Raptors have capitalized. Yet, that wasn’t the performance expected when Toronto went on its yearly winter West Coast road trip.

Despite the tough competition, the Raptors went 4-1 on their five-game road trip, losing only to the LA Lakers, and then went on a four-game winning streak, defeating the Warriors, Kings, Trail Blazers, and defending champion Thunder. It was a statement performance, done while the Raptors have been struggling with injury, and more proof that this team has something going for them.

They are on the precipice of winning more games before the All-Star Break than they did all season last year (they need one more win), and are six games behind the top spot in the East. The Knicks, who are coming to town on Wednesday, are on their heels.

In terms of individual performances, Scottie Barnes is having an all-time career season. He is widely believed to be a top contender for a reserve All-Star spot, which should be announced soon. He is also looking like a shoo-in for First Team All-Defence, and has a believable campaign for Defensive Player of the Year. Brandon Ingram could very well join him at the All-Star game in Los Angeles, if not as a reserve than as an injury replacement. Immanuel Quickley shut the haters up in his West Coast trip performance, averaging 25.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.0 steals while shooting better than 60% from both the field and three-point range in that stretch, per the NBA.

RAPTORS ROLLING: The Toronto Raptors defeated the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder 103-101 last night, completing a 4-1 road trip against Western Conference teams and improving to 16-9 on the road this season. During Toronto’s four-game winning streak, guard Immanuel Quickley is… pic.twitter.com/A2mf7Zr8Vf

— NBA (@NBA) January 26, 2026

It’s an interesting time to be putting up these numbers as a team. The Feb. 5 trade deadline is just over a week away now, and the Raptors have been connected to several trade rumours. It’s always good to take these Raptors rumours with several grains of salt, though. The franchise is notorious for not leaking information out, and these whispers are likely coming from other teams that are engaging in talks with Toronto. You never really know what the Raptors are thinking until they actually do something.

Yet, there are several things the Raptors could do before next Thursday, and this road trip may have shaken those plans up a bit. Quickley, likely feeling the heat, definitely proved something during these past few games — whether that his trade value is high or that he is an asset to this current team. As someone who has been heavily involved in these talks, it will be interesting to see if this changes anything regarding his future.

The other big question mark is Poeltl. He left the Raptors’ road trip early to return to Toronto and receive some more treatment on his nagging back issues. Not only has this left the Raptors without a true centre (something that didn’t seem to hinder them too much during their road trip), but it’s also made the idea of trading him harder. Not only does he have a massive contract to move (he is signed until 2030), but this mysterious and ongoing back injury would make anyone wary of committing to that kind of deal.

The question then leads to, do the Raptors move other players then, in order to get a backup big to replace Poeltl? Do you move on from hometown hero RJ Barrett, whose trade value has definitely risen in his time with the team, to get a decent (and taller) player back? Do you move on from Quickley and task someone with Barnes with ball handling duties in order to build a bigger lineup (vision 6’9 reboot)? Or, do you trust in the incredible chemistry this team has built, ride out the rest of the season without a 7-footer (potentially), and regroup in the summer?

Bobby Webster has about a week and a few more games to watch before he really needs to make a decision on this, but this last week could have the potential to change the course of the Raptors’ season.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/nba-trade...o-trade-deadline-games-poeltl-quickley-barnes

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Can the Raptors snap their 10-game losing streak against the Knicks?

Things change quickly in the NBA.

Just over a week ago, the Toronto Raptors started their five-game road trip by conceding 25 points and 13 rebounds to DeAndre Ayton in a 110-93 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers. It was Toronto’s fourth loss in six games and considering the franchise’s history with west coast trips, concerns about a potential downward spiral were easy to justify.

But somewhere along the journey – or at least during this leg of the race – something clicked for the Raptors. They’re now winners of their last four games, including a resounding signature victory over the reigning champions.

Despite the Raptors’ recent success, it’s important to note that their final two games in January may be a more accurate (and realistic) litmus test for what could await them in April.

It begins with a matchup against the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Sportsnet.

Here are three additional storylines to watch for.

A quick turn of events​

Immanuel Quickley’s value to the Raptors is worth the tricky discussion it often evolves into. His $32.5 million annual salary places him in the top 50 for highest-paid players in 2026. Quickley’s pay ranks him near game-changing guards like Jalen Brunson ($34.9 million), Kyrie Irving ($36.5 million) and Tyrese Maxey ($37.9 million).

Unfortunately for Quickley, his inconsistent play, especially in a league that demands a cheat-code level of quality from the lead guard on a contender, drew criticism online.

But the 26-year-old has recently found his rhythm again and it couldn’t have come at a better time with his former team coming into town. Quickley missed the NBA Cup matchup against the Knicks back in December and the Raptors sorely missed his shooting ability. Toronto finished 11-for-38 (28.9 per cent) in that matchup.

During the Raptors’ four-game win streak, Quickley is averaging 25.3 points, 6.8 assists and 2.0 steals. He’s also shooting 61.1 per cent from the field and a blistering 61.5 per cent from three.

Respect Scottie Barnes​

The Raptors have a top-five defence without a centre, prototypical three-and-d wing, or a perimeter guard. That’s why Scottie Barnes needs to be more seriously considered as the Defensive Player of the Year. Forget the fact that he leads the league in what Yahoo fantasy basketball players covet as stocks (steals and blocks), or that he blocked the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren’s “unblockable” pull-up jumper with the game on the line.

Barnes’ defensive acumen is best appreciated on film. Opposing offences perform nightly mental gymnastics to avoid Barnes, while the Raptors do everything they can to keep him in the play.

With Jakob Poeltl out (back) and Collin Murray-Boyles listed as questionable (thumb), expect Barnes to take on his usual heavy workload as Toronto’s defensive mastermind. As long as he can stay out of foul trouble – a tough ask when defending Karl Anthony-Towns in the post or walling off Brunson’s dribble penetration – the Raptors have a chance to get their first win over the Knicks in quite some time.

A big-apple sized kryptonite​

When NBA fans look back on the 2025-26 season, it won’t be a surprise for some to conclude that the Knicks coasted through the regular-season due to a combination of boredom and self-preservation.

They look like the classic example of a team that understands that the most important possessions happen during the playoffs. But even as the Knicks sleepwalk through the marathon, they are still 28-18 and good enough to be the fourth seed in the wide-open Eastern Conference.

After dropping nine of 11 games, the Knicks are currently on a three-game winning streak. Like most teams, the Knicks are just better when they’re healthier. During their slump, New York missed key depth pieces like Josh Hart and Landry Shamet. Foundational pieces like Anthony-Towns and Brunson also missed games.

It also helps that the Knicks love seeing the Raptors on their schedule. New York has won their last ten games against Toronto.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-g...heir-10-game-losing-streak-against-the-knicks

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Raptors lose steam against Knicks in second half

Neither head coach in tonight’s Raptors vs Knicks match-up pays much attention to the NBA standings. Darko Rajakovic made a pact with himself to avoid them until the All-Star break. Mike Brown, coach of the Knicks, also commented that he doesn’t pay much attention to his team’s place in the rankings. It’s more about focusing on each game, one at a time.

Tonight’s game, though, had many standings implications. The Raptors and Knicks are pretty close to eachother in the top-four spots in the Eastern Conference. A win from either team would have been a great advantage in that battle.

On the Raptors’ side, they came into this game on a four-game streak, having won their last four West Coast road trip games. Though they haven’t beaten the Knicks in several years, New York came into this game on the second night of a back-to-back, missing a few players.

Should be a recipe for success?? It was, until the third quarter — when everything fell apart.

disappointing to see a game that started out with so much promise (raps’ d in the 1st half was some of the best they’ve played all year) go all the way off the rails. offensive process fell apart & they had no answer for ny’s wings. og took their lunch & stuffed them in a locker

— Joe Wolfond (@joey_doubleyou) January 29, 2026

Toronto had a 10-point lead going into the second quarter and a 4-point lead at halftime. By the end of the third, the Raptors were down 12 points, and it was a 20-point game in the fourth.

The Raptors stopped taking care of the ball, leading to reckless turnovers. They were pretty cold when it came to shooting all night, but while the Knicks recovered from a cold start, the Raptors got colder. Toronto only shot 38% from the field on the night, and 27% from three-point range. It was, for lack of a better word, a gross display of basketball.

Maybe they should trade for Giannis. I mean, if this is the effort you’re going to give, why not blow it up?

What is it about the Knicks that the Raptors just can’t figure out? It’s been years of this, and it feels like this New York team just has the Raptors number every single time.

That’s the kind of game you need to just forget and move on from, and the Raptors will do that as they head back out of cold Toronto and into the Orlando heat this Friday for a quick road trip.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-scores-results/49269/raptors-toronto-new-york-knicks-game-recap

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Is Giannis to the Raptors a possibility?

No reason to beat around the bush — Shams is reporting that Giannis is done in Milwaukee. Whether he gets traded at the deadline next week or this summer, it doesn’t seem like we will head into next season with the Greek Freak in Wisconsin.

Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home at the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline or in the offseason as several rival teams make aggressive offers to the Milwaukee Bucks for him, and the franchise is starting to listen, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/OejatbQjDy

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2026

No matter which NBA market you’re in, your mind immediately goes to: “Could Giannis come HERE?”

Rumours of Giannis coming to Toronto aren’t a new phenomenon. The NBA All-Star, Champion, and MVP has been attached to Toronto several times throughout his career, especially back when Masai Ujiri ran the team. Now that it’s clear he wants out of his current situation, Toronto fans will obviously foam at the mouth at the idea of a star like him coming to Toronto.

Is it even possible, though? Is it even a good idea?

To answer the first note, anything is possible, technically. The Bucks will want to absolutely clean house in exchange for their franchise superstar, so the price will be high. Yet, he also wants out, so they can’t be precious about it, either.

Now, is bringing Giannis to the Raptors right now a good idea? That’s more complicated.

To get Giannis, the Raptors would basically have to gut their current core. Milwaukee would obviously go for Scottie Barnes first — he’s one of the closest player-for-player replacements for Giannis in the entire league, and younger. Do the Raptors just hand away their home-drafted, All-Star-bound, 24-year old superstar for the 31-year old version of him? Do they give up on the kid they’ve invested the past 5 years into? The one they built this entire franchise around?

Now, some reports say both Barnes and Ingram are “untouchable” in Giannis talks. Which does make sense — why bring a star in with no core around him? Yet, also take these reports with a grain of salt, as always.

The Raptors have made Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes untouchable in Giannis trade talks, per @GrantAfseth pic.twitter.com/cF0ypGJass

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 28, 2026

If they aren’t willing to give up Scottie or Ingram, the Raptors would have to send some sort of combination of Jakob Poeltl, RJ Barrett, Collin Murray-Boyles, maybe more players, and so so so many draft picks. Even with Scottie or Ingram in the mix, the deal would probably include other assets. Not just to make the money work but to satisfy the Bucks.

The situation changes a bit if Giannis himself says, “I want to come to Toronto.” That isn’t impossible, either. He seems to want to stay in the Eastern conference and be in a place where it would be easier to get to his wife and kids in Greece with ease. That’s basically New York or Toronto. If Giannis expresses a desire to come to Toronto, the price for him could drop a little in a trade, since that destination has the leverage.

Okay, so say it’s possible, and the price is right — does Giannis work in Toronto? I mean, a star of his calibre works anywhere. The question is how it works. Do you keep Scottie and deploy a freakishly large lineup? Do you let Scottie go in the trade and replace his impact with Giannis?

While it would be cool to have a star like Giannis, it would also mean taking apart this team that has so much chemistry. There are pros and cons for sure. Personally, I think it would be cool, but also won’t be gutted if it doesn’t happen. As a Toronto sports fan, I’m very over getting my hopes up at huge free agents choosing to come or stay here. Kawhi, Shohei, Bo, the list goes on. I’m not getting my hopes up for Giannis.

Personally, I think he goes to Miami. Miami is still east enough to be able to access Europe pretty easily, plus pairing him with Bam Adebayo and then cleaning house on basically everyone else seems like a logical solution. You still go to a team with a great, experienced coach in Spo, and the Heat are desperate for a refresh. With Scottie and Ingram apparently not available, it seems far-fetched to think Giannis coming to Toronto is possible. Miami makes sense, to me anyway.

Either way, the NBA’s next mega star is on the move.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-rumors/49256/giannis-trade-toronto-raptors-bucks-barnes-ingram