The 2026 NBA trade deadline is approaching, and the latest rumors surrounding Anthony Davis and Ja Morant are causing a stir. According to TSN's Josh Lewenberg, the Toronto Raptors' interest in trading for Davis is largely driven by the influence of player agent Rich Paul. However, NBA insider Jake Fischer reports that the Raptors and Atlanta Hawks are no longer actively involved in significant trade talks with the Dallas Mavericks. This means that the Raptors are not actively pursuing Morant, despite the Grizzlies' willingness to entertain inquiries. While the Raptors may be out on Davis, they are still intrigued by the prospect of acquiring Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis.
The Golden State Warriors, on the other hand, have not shown any interest in trading Jimmy Butler, who is out for the season with an ACL injury, for Davis. According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, Davis prefers to stay in Dallas and secure an extension this summer. However, the Mavericks are trying to generate a good trade market, and Rich Paul is likely to be involved in any potential trade. The Mavs' record of 18-26 and their 12th place in the Western Conference while playing most of the season without Davis due to ligament damage in his hand further emphasizes the need for a trade.
The Raptors would need to move out multiple contracts to fit Davis under the cap, as he is playing under a $54 million cap hit this season. According to Lewenberg, the Raptors are willing to part with Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, and RJ Barrett to make room for a star player like Davis. Poeltl's $28 million average annual salary through 2030, Quickley's $32.5 million AAV through 2029, and Barrett's $29.6 million remaining on his current deal make this a feasible move. Moving a combination of these players would theoretically allow the Raptors to make room for Davis under the cap while also increasing the team's cap flexibility over the next few seasons.
The Raptors' decision could be influenced by the job status of general manager Bobby Webster, who is currently in the final year of his contract with the team. According to Michael Grange of TSN, the Raptors and Webster have had exploratory discussions on a multi-year extension to his current deal, with talks expected to pick up after the trade deadline. Lewenberg notes that Webster has full autonomy and is under no pressure to take a big swing in his first at-bat, but the pressure is on to make a decision that will impact the team's future.
The Raptors are currently sitting at No. 4 in the Eastern Conference after a 27-19 start to the season, with about two weeks remaining until the Feb. 5 trade deadline. With Davis' extensive injury history and the expectation that Paul and Davis will seek an extension with whoever he's playing for come springtime, Webster will have to evaluate whether Davis or his current core would give his team a better chance to make a playoff run before his current GM contract expires.
