The Toronto Raptors have been walking a financial tightrope this season - and now, it looks like they’re ready to make a move to regain some balance.
Despite a solid 17-11 start to the year, Toronto is currently sitting above the luxury tax line, thanks in large part to the sizable deals handed out to Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, and Brandon Ingram. That’s a lot of money tied up in a core that’s still finding its full rhythm, and while the early returns have been promising, the front office appears to be eyeing some financial flexibility heading into the back half of the season.
According to league sources, the Raptors are actively exploring trade options that would help them dip below the tax threshold - and one name that’s surfaced in these discussions is Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards.
Toronto has reportedly expressed interest in Richards as part of a broader search for a backup center upgrade. The 7-footer is on an expiring $5 million deal, which makes him an attractive target from both a roster and salary standpoint. The Raptors have been leaning heavily on their wing depth this season, but a more reliable presence behind Poeltl could help solidify their interior rotation - especially as the Eastern Conference playoff picture begins to take shape.
In these exploratory talks, the Raptors have floated the idea of moving Ochai Agbaji, along with second-round draft compensation, in exchange for Richards. Agbaji, a 25-year-old three-and-D wing, is in the final year of his rookie contract and is set to hit restricted free agency this summer. He’s making $6.3 million this season - slightly more than Richards - which would help Toronto inch closer to that tax line if a deal were to go through.
Agbaji got the start in Thursday’s 111-105 win over the Bucks, a move that raised some eyebrows. While it could’ve simply been a rotation tweak, it’s hard not to wonder if the Raptors were giving other teams - including Phoenix - a closer look at what he brings to the table.
He’s the kind of player who doesn’t need the ball to impact the game, and his defensive versatility fits nicely in today’s switch-heavy schemes. But with Ja’Kobe Walter and Gradey Dick also earning minutes on the wing, Toronto has some redundancy at that spot - and that makes Agbaji a logical trade piece.
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Head coach Darko Rajakovic has leaned into this wing-heavy approach all season, often trotting out lineups stacked with length and shooting. But as the Raptors look to balance their books and their roster, a move like this could serve dual purposes: saving money and shoring up a key depth position.
Nothing’s imminent yet, but the framework is there. If Toronto can flip a surplus asset for a needed piece - and duck under the tax in the process - it’s the kind of savvy midseason adjustment that could pay dividends down the stretch.