East Team Emerges as Surprise Suitor for Two West All Stars

The Toronto Raptors have a surprisingly solid start to the 2025-26 season. 

The Raptors sit as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 16-11 record. Toronto entered this season healthy, and they have remained as such for the most part. Take their strong chemistry, significant player development, and stellar play from their star players, and it’s easy to see why they are in the top three in the East as of mid-December. 

While they are off to a strong start, the Raptors may still be on the lookout to make a major upgrade to their roster. 

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Adding a true star alongside Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram could do wonders for Toronto this season. It’s unclear if the Raptors will make a move, but according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, they are showing interest in All-Star big men Anthony Davis and Domantas Sabonis. 

“The business Toronto is ultimately willing to conduct before the February trade buzzer will likely come down to how good the 16-11 Raptors still are as that deadline draws closer. Toronto, though, has sent out some early signals that it hopes to upgrade its frontcourt. Sources with knowledge of the Raptors’ thinking have identified them as a team with interest in Domantas Sabonis as well as Davis.”

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The Raptors desperately need to improve their paint protection and big man depth behind Jakob Poeltl, and find more consistent three-point shooting. Davis certainly helps with the former, as he is still one of the best defensive players in the game.

Health has been an issue for the 10-time All-Star, but when he is on the court, Davis is still an elite player on both sides of the ball.

As for Sabonis, he is another player likely to be dealt come the February trade deadline. He is an elite player who is a double-double machine on any given night.

If the Raptors feel like they have a legitimate shot at making a deep playoff run, they may be one of the few teams ot be big buyers these next few months.

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