Rediscovering Relevancy: Stein reports Masai Ujiri may make “gradiose swing” at NBA Trade Deadline

Marc Stein reports that the Toronto Raptors have interest in trading for Brandon Ingram of New Orleans, among other things.

The NBA Trade Deadline is just over a week away, on February 6th, and the Toronto Raptors are starting to tip-toe into the trade waters. A different approach to last season, when they canon-balled into the trade waters.

Toronto were (mostly) sellers in 2024 — letting go of OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam. Yet, the also acquired RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Bruce Brown, Ochai Agbaji, Kelly Olynyk, and number of other assets that were either picks (now rookies), or let go. So, they were actually kind of buyers last season. So the official rebuild began (it was already happening as much as some were in denial).

Now in 2025, the big expectation was that they will actually be sellers this time. Get a bunch of draft picks, continue to develop. Bruce Brown’s contract is expiring, and he was always seen as a trade piece anyway. Chris Boucher is another name floating around, the Canadian also being on an expiring contract. Boucher’s place on the edge of the lineup and potential to move on as a free agent are all things to think about in regards to Boucher’s future.

Yet, now the Raptors are entering the rumour mill as… buyers? Make it make sense. We will try to later on here, stay tuned.

Marc Stein reported on his latest edition of The Stein Line that Brandon Ingram is one of the main names on the market this trade season, on the end of an expiring $36 million dollar contract. The New Orleans Pelican forward has been out with an ankle injury since early December, but overall is a promising player. Remember when he scored his career high over the Raptors?

If you watched the Pelicans play the Raptors Monday night, it’s obvious to see that they need to do something, anything to this team. Moving Ingram for picks or a player may help move them in the direction they need to be going in — REBUILD.

Yet, the Toronto Raptors are not in ANY position to be giving up draft picks. People have been assuming they will be receiving picks, if anything.

As for obtaining Ingram, Stein says that “it remains to be seen if the Raptors become more than [merely interested] where Ingram is concerned,” yet “the suggestion of Raptors interest in Ingram is the most significant development in weeks when it comes to the New Orleans forward.”

According to both Stein and Jake Fischer, Ujiri and Webster have “made it clear throughout the league that they hope to be facilitators in the event that a multi-team transaction is required to move Jimmy Butler” as the Miami Heat looks to move Butler. They have now suspended him indefinitely after Butler walked out of practice, learning that he would be benched. What Stein calls their “once-bountiful relationship” has deteriorated this season. It will likely be a multi-team deal considering the size of Butler’s contract and expectations.

So, why would any of this make sense for the Raptors, who we all expected to collect draft picks as opposed to look for a core player and call it a day? Well, Michael Grange of Sportsnet reports that the Raptors are open to discussing trades that could bring another “significant” player in to pair with Scottie Barnes. Barnes, who won Eastern Conference Player of the Week earlier this week, has been surrounded by young players with high potential.

Stein goes on to attempt to make it make sense for us… in terms we know well by now — Masai Ujiri wants to turn this ship around ASAP. Stein even goes back to quote Masai from last July (and last February, and the July before that, and the February before that), “we will win again here.” Classic Masai-ism.

As Marc Stein puts it, the Raptors are eager to “rediscover relevancy” after Ujiri told the media last summer that when you don’t win, “you are irrelevant.”

As far as I was concerned, the major acquisition I expected the Raptors to make this year was named Cooper Flagg. Or Ace Bailey. Or Dylan Harper. A trio also known as “the top three prospects in the 2025 NBA draft.”

Well, as Stein ends his report with “maybe the Raptors take a more grandiose swing,” I am worried. We took a swing with VanVleet, and another in the opposite direction with Quickley, who has yet to be healthy enough to play in 10 games this season. Hey, a swing was even taken with Jontay Porter last year, and we all remember how that turned out.

What’s better: a “swing” that Masai Ujiri has more control over, aka a trade for an Ingram or whoever. OR waiting for the fates of the draft lottery to make that swing happen for you. Masai likes doing things his way, loves a “grandiose swing,” so maybe Stein and Fischer and Grange are onto something here.

Keep your eyes peeled, Raptors fans — it seems like we are about to head into the storm.