The Toronto Raptors have made a surprise move ahead of the NBA trade deadline, acquiring veteran point guard Chris Paul in a multi-team deal, although reports say he will not report to the team.
Toronto has moved 2032 draft pick and cash-strapped Ochai Agbaji to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a deal involving the Los Angeles Clippers, according to media reports and ESPN.
The trade helped the Raptors get out of the luxury tax while equalizing payroll for Los Angeles.
According to Sportsnet, head coach Darko Rajakovic spoke about player trade speculation earlier this week, telling reporters, “Listen, we have to recognize that the trade deadline is right around the corner. I don’t have any information about what’s going on. I don’t want to know what’s going on until something goes wrong or doesn’t go.”
“There is so little we can control and so much that is beyond our control,” he added.
Toronto entered the week with a strong 30-21 record and topped the Eastern Conference standings despite modest expectations for the season. Still, the team has struggled with depth at midrange and three-point shooting.
Players say the uncertainty is part of the business. Jamal Shead said, “This is a business, and you do your job every day, and what happens, happens.”
Sandro Mamukelashvili added: “We have games to play. I think that’s the main focus now: winning games and playing your role.”
The Raptors continue to explore roster moves as the deadline approaches.
