Toronto is making waves in the trade market ahead of the deadline

As the NBA trade deadline approaches next month, The Toronto Raptors have emerged as one of the most active teams in the league in trade discussions, according to longtime NBA insider Marc Stein.

Speaking Friday on Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Stein said Toronto signaled to rival teams that open to a significant moveeven as league executives expect the bulk of trade activity to occur closer to the deadline.

“I think we’re probably at the point where most of the action is going to happen closer to the deadline, but we’ve already seen Trae Young trade, which is pretty significant to me. And it happened earlier than expected,” Stein said. “I think we also have to remember that last February was the craziest trade deadline I’ve ever seen, certainly the craziest in my 30 years of doing this. So if we compare it to that, I think everybody who loves trades will be disappointed. But for your audience, I have to imagine there’s a lot of interest, enjoyment, engagement, whatever you’re going to use. The Raptors have really made an impression on a lot of teams that they’ve tried or at least explored a path in almost everything so far, but they’re in the middle of everything.

Stein mentioned a recent blockbuster involving Trae Young, who was traded to the Washington Wizards last week in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, an example of a big move that happened earlier than expected.

“People talk a lot about the Raptors … they’ve made an impression on a lot of teams that they want to do something significant.”@TheSteinLine joins @BlakeMurphiODC and @mattbonner_15 to explore the Toronto trade market as the deadline approaches.

📺 https://t.co/SkK7M993Jz pic.twitter.com/LklJF0Bg9U

— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) January 16, 2026

Brandon Ingram’s impact fuels Raptors’ surge as trade ramps up

Toronto’s assertive stance on the trade market comes amid a strong season on the floor. The Raptors enter Friday at 25-17, which puts them in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, and have bounced back from the acquisition of forward Brandon Ingram, who joined the team last February.

Ingram is averaging 21.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range in 40 games. He logged 33.8 minutes per contest in his first season in Toronto and was a perfect fit alongside All-Star forward Scotty Barnes, giving the Raptors a reliable scoring base and flexibility at the position.

While Toronto has yet to complete a deal, Stein noted that the team’s extensive market engagement has caught the attention of the entire league, positioning the Raptors as a potential catalyst as the deadline nears.

Toronto is back in action Friday night at home against the Los Angeles Clippers (17-23) at 7:30 p.m. ET before starting a five-game road trip Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers (24-15) at 9:30 p.m. ET as speculation continues to build about possible roster moves.