The 10 Biggest winners and losers of the NBA trade deadline

Loser: Toronto Raptors

As Dan Favale of Bleacher Report writes ” Uh, Toronto, what are you doing? “. Highly anticipated to be sellers, the Raptors instead traded a top-six protected first-round pick in 2024, along with two second-round picks for former Spurs’ Center Jakob Poeltl.

This is a lot to give up for a big man who isn’t all-star caliber or even close. Maybe it would make sense if Toronto were a title contender, but at 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 26-30 record, they’re not, and with this being the Raptors’ only move at the deadline, it doesn’t look like it will be anytime soon.

Toronto’s at risk of losing Poeltl in free agency, along with Fred Vanvleet and Gary Trent Jr, the team’s two backcourt starters who have been in trade rumors for months. Even if it can retain all three players, at what cost it will be? And how much winning will you get out of that team that will surely have a high payroll? Both questions have answers Raptors fans might not want to hear.