Raptors Trying To Trade 3 Starters in Blockbuster Move

The Toronto Raptors have surprised many by their fourth-place showing thus far in the Eastern Conference. At 24-17, they're far above their predicted standing. They currently sit 7th in the entire NBA in defensive rating.

But for general manager Bobby Webster, that's not good enough, and according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Webster might be looking to blow the team up by trading three of his five starters.

The Raptors are trying to see what they can get with a combination of Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jakob Poeltl, per @JakeLFischer pic.twitter.com/rGRD5n9jj6
— Hoops Alerts (@TheHoopsAlerts) January 14, 2026

Fischer writes that the Raptors are trying to see what Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jakob Poeltl can bring them back, presumably in the way of a superstar. We already know that they've been considering making a push for Anthony Davis, and apparently that's still out there, despite the fact that Davis is out for a significant period with a hand ligament injury (on top of all the other injuries he's been out with the past few seasons).

The Toronto Raptors remain interested in Anthony Davis, and any trade package would include a combination of Immanuel Quickley or Jakob Poeltl, along with RJ Barrett, per @TheSteinLine

“Sources say Toronto is among the teams that has maintained trade interest in Davis, but any… pic.twitter.com/RF34Rmfv6l
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 14, 2026

Their offer to Big D for AD would supposedly include Barrett plus either of Quickley or Poeltl.

What all this talk will do to team chemistry remains to be seen. The Raptors have been a nice story this season, but constantly hearing that the team is looking to trade them could certainly affect the three players involved.

Quickley has three more years to run after this one at a $32.5 million annual salary, while Poeltl's three-year, $84 million extension ($28M AAV) doesn't even begin until 2027 and runs through the 2029-30 season. Barrett has just one year to go at $29.6M.

If the Mavericks were looking for some salary relief and flexibility by trading Davis and his $58 million next season and $62 million on a player option the year after, they won't be getting it with this potential offer from the Raptors. They'd be stuck with $60M annually owed to Quickley & Poeltl for several more years.

Raptors looking at Ja Morant in addition to Anthony Davis

Is Ja Morant another target the Raptors could be looking at? At least one of those same Toronto names will be needed to make a deal viable, as Morant carries an average salary of $39.4M this season, and $43 million+ AAV over two more years after this one.

As for Davis, he's played just 29 games in the last 12 months since coming to Dallas in the shocking Luka Doncic trade. He's missed about 55 games in that time. He's played over 56 games only once in the last five seasons.