Now that the New York Knicks have won the 2026 NBA finals, the season is officially over, and that means the offseason begins. The draft and free agency haven’t started yet, but teams can make trades and negotiate with their own free agents. So right now, it’s a good time to talk about what the Toronto Raptors can do in the offseason.
The Raptors were a surprise to many. Not many analysts thought Toronto would be a playoff team, but the Raptors proved them wrong. Toronto finished the season fifth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 46-36.
They lasted seven games in the first round, but the Cleveland Cavaliers would eliminate them. If Immanuel Quickley and Brandon Ingram were healthy in the postseason, the Raptors could’ve made a deep run in the playoffs.
So, how confident can this team be in making another playoff run?
Toronto can make another postseason run if they make changes to its roster. The Raptors have to make changes because the roster that is currently constructed won’t be able to compete in the East.
The 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. 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. 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? RJ Barrett’s name has been in trade rumors all year. Barrett should only get traded if Toronto can get an all-star-type player in return.
Otherwise, he should not be traded. Barrett has been good for the Raptors, including the game-winning shot against the Cavaliers in Game 6. Keep him unless they can find a better player than him.
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.
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.
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. An upgrade at the center position can give Toronto a better chance to compete next season.
A trade that could work is Poeltl, 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.
Another player that the Raptors should consider trading is Quickley. Quickley has been an inconsistent scorer this season, and for Toronto to take the next step, they need a point guard who can be a consistent scorer and a good playmaker, which isn’t Quickley.
The Raptors should consider trading Quickley, Dick, and the 19th pick for Dejounte Murray and Yves Missi. Toronto gets a veteran point guard who can shoot, pass, and defend. He can take the Raptors to the next level. Toronto also gets a young backup center if they can’t find a trade for Poeltl.
Another Quickley trade that the Raptors should consider is sending him and Dick to the Memphis Grizzlies for Ja Morant. Morant is an All-Star, but the value is really low. Teams like the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans were interested in trading for him, but now they have decided to move on from acquiring him.
Going to Toronto can be a fresh start for him. He worked with the current head coach of the Raptors, Darko Rajaković, during his time in Memphis as an assistant coach. Morant isn’t a great shooter, but he is a better playmaker than Quickley. That reason alone is why the Raptors should make this deal as long as there are no picks involved.
The East is getting stronger. The Raptors would be in the Play-In spot or out of the playoffs if they don’t improve their roster. There are at least six teams better than Toronto right now and six other teams that could fight them for a Play-In spot. That’s why the Raptors should consider making the trades listed above.