Raptors Trade Rumors: Raptors Poised To Make Big Splash at Trade Deadline

December 16, 2025



The Toronto Raptors are rumored to be eyeing a big splash at the trade deadline to beef up their big-man rotation. 

And a new name has entered the fray; this time it's Sacramento Kings All-Star center Domantas Sabonis.

Insider Jake Fischer has put it out there that the Raptors have "officially expressed exploratory interest" in the Kings' three-time All-Star. Sabonis led the NBA in rebounding in each of the previous three seasons, while maintaining a 19-point per game scoring average over that time, with elite floor-spacing numbers from the perimeter as well. He's shot 37.7% from three-point range in his time with the Kings over the last four years. 

Which Dallas Mavericks big man should the Raptors target? 

Talk has also been swirling that they may be one of the interested teams in landing 10-time oft-injured All-Star Anthony Davis. The Dallas Mavericks are thought to be making him available for trade (despite what former majority owner Mark Cuban says). 

But an Anthony Davis trade for the Raptors seems like a bit of a stretch, with all of the assets they'd have to give up to land him, not to mention his difficulty of staying on the court and being available. With that in mind, Raptors beat writer Josh Lewenberg suggests that Toronto also has another Dallas big man on their radar as well. 

"The likelihood of them making a move before (the deadline in February), is pretty high," he says. But rather than pay the exorbitant price (and high risk of injury) for Davis, he says they could look at acquiring Daniel Gafford.

Daniel Gafford is affordable trade target from Mavericks

"If Dallas is indeed open for business, the more realistic target could be Daniel Gafford. A player that I'm told the Raptors are interested in, that they like, and that they've already checked in on," said Lewenberg.

Gafford is usually good for about 10 points per game and 7 boards in recent seasons, with about a block and a half per game as well. He's a high-energy, athletic, rim-runner who can protect the rim. He can play the five or the four. 

The Raptors, in the thick of the Eastern Conference race for the first time in four years, are getting ready to pounce.

Photo: © Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

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