Entire NBA Shocked At One Surprise Team That Did NOT Sell At The Deadline

All along, it was the Toronto Raptors who were supposed to control this trade deadline. They were the "seller" that would set the market. They had all the great pieces to move, including OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. 

Then Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant happened. 

Then, for whatever reasons, Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster in the Toronto front office decided to become buyers instead. They added the center they'd long been seeking to help balance their lineup. And they're going to roll on, as is.

The Raptors never turned out to be sellers, adding Spurs center Jakob Poeltl on deadline day. They'll have to make some harder decisions in the offseason, but Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster tested and learned more about the value of several players.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2023

VanVleet and Trent Jr. will become free agents after the season, so it's a curious move by Toronto, as they now risk losing them both for nothing. In fact, they even added another player (Jakob Poeltl) who will also become a free agent.

Ujiri, asked if he feels like they can re-sign their 3 (likely) unrestricted free agents this summer (VanVleet, Trent, Poeltl): "We're always focused on trying to retain our players... We'll see how we perform the rest of the season and make that assessment."

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) February 9, 2023

Team president Ujiri, when asked if he feels like they can re-sign their three unrestricted free agents this summer: "We're always focused on trying to retain our players... We'll see how we perform the rest of the season and make that assessment."

It also appears that if they were going to trade off any of those prime assets, the asking price was very steep. 

What would Masai Ujiri say to fans that wanted the Raptors to make a blockbuster trade?

“It didn’t happen.”

Why didn’t it happen?

“The opportunity was not there for us to make a blockbuster trade.” pic.twitter.com/N8y8PV1oGE

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) February 9, 2023

The Raptors wanted Jonathan Kuminga, others and picks for OG Anunoby, per @CjHolmes22 pic.twitter.com/CvsZrw5HBB

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) February 9, 2023

“The opportunity was not there for us to make a blockbuster trade," added Masai. 

Warriors beat writer C.J. Holmes of the San Franciso Chronicle indicated that the Raptors asked for breakthrough youngster Jonathan Kuminga in addition to other picks and assets in return for Anunoby.

In the end, the Raptors' reticence to trade certainly didn't stop the insane flurry of activity that transpired. 

Photo: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports