Raptors decide to do nothing on NBA trade deadline day: reports
The 3 pm ET NBA trade deadline has come and gone.
In stark contrast to this time last season, the Toronto Raptors have stood pat, according to multiple reports.
The Raptors have gone through the deadline and stood pat, per sources. Another team that did nothing, the Milwaukee Bucks, has to feel pretty good that none of the other teams atop the East made a huge swing at the deadline ā unlike last season.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) February 6, 2020
No deals at the buzzer for the two top teams in the East right now — Bucks and Raptors, sources say.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) February 6, 2020
One year ago, Raptors president Masai Ujiri went all in, acquiring Marc Gasol in a four-player trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. And it worked, as the Kawhi Leonard-led Raptors won their first NBA championship.
But this time around? Well, there’s not really any need to do anything.
Despite being injury-riddled for most of the season, the Raptors have aĀ betterĀ record (37-14) through 51 games than they did last season (36-15). The team is red hot, winning a franchise-record 12th game in a row on Wednesday.
The big question mark surrounding the Raptors is how they’ll fare in the playoffs without a superstar — and that’s not something that can be easily acquired at the deadline. But this season Toronto has proven they should be able to deliver in the postseason better than they did during the DeMar DeRozan era.
The Raptors are deep, a threat to score from distance, and stifling on defence. They’re also now battle-tested and likely full of confidence with championship pedigree. Those are qualities that will help them in the playoffs.
So given that, it should be no wonder why Ujiri said thanks, but no thanks at the trade deadline this year.
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