Raptors Miss on Big Deadline Moves - But Open a Big Door for Collin Murray-Boyles
The Toronto Raptors swung big at the trade deadline - and missed. They were in on just about every big-name center on the market, from Anthony Davis to Domantas Sabonis to Jaren Jackson Jr., and even had some eyes on the ripple effect if Giannis Antetokounmpo had been moved.
But when the dust settled, the Raptors didn’t land a marquee big man. And while that might sting for fans hoping for a frontcourt upgrade, it might just be the best thing that could’ve happened for rookie Collin Murray-Boyles.
Let’s be clear: Toronto had every reason to go center-hunting. Jakob Poeltl, their current starting 5, is both sidelined with injury and locked into a hefty long-term deal that doesn’t quite match his current production. If the Raptors believe in building around Scottie Barnes - now an All-Star - and Brandon Ingram, who carries a $40 million price tag as a combo forward, then shoring up the center position made plenty of sense.
And they tried. Hard.
Toronto reportedly had a deal on the table for Anthony Davis before he was rerouted to Washington. They were deep in talks for Sabonis before Sacramento pulled back.
Jaren Jackson Jr. was another target, but he ultimately landed in Utah. Even Myles Turner was a name that could’ve come into play had the Bucks decided to move Giannis.
But in every one of those negotiations, one major roadblock kept popping up: Jakob Poeltl’s contract. With four more years of above-average starter money tied to a player whose production has wavered between “serviceable” and “unavailable,” opposing teams weren’t exactly lining up to take him on. That made it tough for the Raptors to get serious traction on any blockbuster frontcourt upgrades.
In the end, Toronto settled for a much quieter deadline. They moved Ochai Agbaji to duck under the luxury tax and brought in Trayce Jackson-Davis - more depth than difference-maker. For a team that was rumored to be chasing stars, it felt like a whimper of a finish.
But here’s the twist: that silence might be golden for Collin Murray-Boyles.
The Raptors used the ninth pick in last year’s draft to grab the former South Carolina standout, and it’s become pretty clear they’re high on him. His name was conspicuously absent from trade rumors, and for good reason - Toronto sees something.
And now, with no new big man blocking his path, Murray-Boyles has a real runway to prove he belongs in the Raptors' core.
Let’s talk fit. Scottie Barnes is locked in at the 4 - and rightfully so.
Ingram operates best as a forward as well. That means if Murray-Boyles is going to carve out a long-term role, it’s going to be at center.
He’s a bit undersized for the position, but what he lacks in traditional size, he makes up for in defensive tenacity and instincts. He’s not just a hustle guy - he’s a disruptor.
The kind of defender who changes the rhythm of possessions, who rotates early, gets his hands in passing lanes, and makes life miserable for opposing bigs.
It’s dangerous to throw around comparisons to NBA legends, but Murray-Boyles has drawn some quiet whispers of being the closest thing we’ve seen to Draymond Green since Draymond himself - a high-IQ, switchable defender who can anchor a defense without needing to be a 7-footer.
And the numbers back it up.
Even in limited minutes, Murray-Boyles has made an impact. His per-36 stats - 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks - hint at a player who’s already affecting the game on multiple levels.
More telling? The Raptors’ defense improves by 2.6 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor.
That’s not supposed to happen with rookies, especially ones playing out of position. He’s been logging most of his time as a backup power forward behind Barnes, and still, the defense tightens up when he checks in.
When Barnes and Murray-Boyles share the floor, things really click. The Raptors outscore opponents by 8.9 points per 100 possessions with that duo, putting them in the 90th percentile leaguewide, per Cleaning the Glass.
That’s elite territory. The defense with those two together?
Smothering.
Had Toronto landed Sabonis or Davis, Murray-Boyles might’ve been stuck on the bench for years, waiting for a chance that never came. That could still happen - the Raptors remain oddly committed to Poeltl - but the door is open now. And it’s not hard to imagine Murray-Boyles pushing his way through it.
So while the Raptors didn’t win the trade deadline in the traditional sense, they may have won something more important: the chance to see what they really have in Collin Murray-Boyles. The opportunity is there. Now it’s on him to grab it.
And if his early flashes are any indication, he just might.