While Anthony Davis (finger) is set to remain sidelined beyond the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, the Dallas Mavericks star continues to be a fixture in the rumor mill.
Given their glaring lack of size and chance to take another step in the wide-open Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors have been heavily linked to the big man. However, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange, one factor will likely prevent the franchise from going all in.
Raptors Insider Pushes Back on Anthony Davis Rumors As Toronto Prioritizes ‘Patient’ Team-Building Strategy
While the Raptors have exceeded expectations, sitting fourth in the East (26-19), adding shooting and frontcourt reinforcements could elevate them into another tier. They rank just 27th in the NBA in 3-point percentage (34.2%), 22nd in rebounds per game (42.9), and 19th in blocks per game (4.5), often leading to mismatches against opponents with elite size and spacing.
Jakob Poeltl, the franchise’s lone proven 7-footer, has been in and out of the lineup all season as he manages a nagging back injury, having last suited up on Dec. 21. His absence has left Toronto relying on the likes of versatile rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles and reserve big Sandro Mamukelashvili to shoulder excessive burdens at the five.
Meanwhile, even when Poeltl is healthy, the Raptors’ frontcourt potential is capped, given his limited rim protection and lack of floor-spacing ability.
At full strength, Davis could slot in perfectly next to stars Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, giving the team a two-way boost in the interior. Through 20 appearances this season, he is averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game on 50.6% shooting.
Still, with the oft-injured 10-time All-Star nursing ligament damage in his left hand as his 33rd birthday approaches, Grange doesn’t see Toronto pulling the trigger over “timing” concerns.
“The Raptors have certainly had conversations about what it would mean to try to trade for the soon-to-be 33-year-old, but timing matters: Acquiring Davis is the definition of a win-now move, given the big man’s injury history,” Grange reported Tuesday.
“A three-year extension he is said to be looking for — and which the Mavericks are loathe to give since they are centering their future plans on 19-year-old Cooper Flagg — would keep him on the books until his age-37 season in 2029-30. The deal could be worth up to $275 million.
“But even if it was a shorter deal for less than the maximum he is eligible for, it is still a significant risk for any acquiring team. Even if Davis was available for a steep discount, the timing doesn’t seem right for the current Raptors club.”
The team insider added that contrary to popular reporting, Toronto general manager Bobby Webster has embraced a “patient” team-building approach. As such, if a “big swing” is in the cards, Grange foresees it happening after this season, when the Raptors have a better sense of their young core’s ceiling.
