The Toronto Raptors came into the NBA Trade Deadline this year with high hopes. Every star from Ja Morant to Giannis Antetokounmpo was linked to them, and they specifically were linked to a plethora of centers in the rumor mill. By striking out, however, rookie big Collin Murray-Boyles has a chance to level up his career.
It was understandable that the Raptors went after high-level big men, as their starting center Jakob Poeltl is both injured and expensive. If Toronto believed in the pairing of Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, landing a center who could elevate the frontcourt even further made sense.
The Raptors pursued such an upgrade with gusto. They had an offer on the table for Anthony Davis when he was instead traded to the Washington Wizards. They were close to a deal for Domantas Sabonis before the Sacramento Kings backed away. Jaren Jackson Jr. was a player they were linked to, and he ultimately was traded to the Utah Jazz. If Antetokounmpo had been moved, Myles Turner may have shaken loose.
The primary sticking point in all of the above negotiations seemed to be the contract of Jakob Poeltl, who is paid for another four seasons beyond this one at above-average starting center money, which is unthinkable given his combination of mediocrity and availability. Opposing teams understandably didn't want to take on his contract.
Toronto therefore struck out in every pursuit, ultimately dumping Ochai Agbaji to get out of the luxury tax and picking up Trayce Jackson-Davis as a warm body at the center position. While the Raptors and their fans may be disappointed at the outcome, a fruitless trade deadline actually opens up the door for one player on the roster -- rookie big man Collin Murray-Boyles.
Collin Murray-Boyles survived the trade deadline
The Raptors seem to be enamored by former South Carolina big man Collin Murray-Boyles. They targeted him with the ninth pick in last year's draft, and he appeared to be off the table in their various trade machinations over the last few weeks.
Yet at the same time, adding a big-name center would have put a mountain right in the way of his career. With Scottie Barnes a deserving All-Star and position-locked as a power forward, and Brandon Ingram on a lucrative $40 million a year contract as a combo forward, there is no place at the forward positions for Murray-Boyles to rise into the starting lineup.
If he is going to claim his spot in this team's core, it will be at the center position, as an undersized-but-lethal defensive wrecking-ball at the 5. It's dangerous to cite unique NBA legends as comparisons, but "CMB" is the closest thing to Draymond Green since the limb-flailer himself came onto the scene and served as the defensive linchpin to four championships.
Murray-Boyles has stepped into duty with Poeltl and other players injured and carved out a decent rotation role, but his per-36 numbers scream at untapped potential, even as a rookie. 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks.
Toronto's defense gets 2.6 points per 100 possessions better when Murray-Boyles takes the court -- and rookies aren't supposed to be good on defense, yet. And that is with CMB stuck playing most of his minutes as the backup power forward behind Scottie Barnes.
When Barnes and Murray-Boyles take the court together, the Raptors outscore opponents by 8.9 points per 100 possessions, in the 90th percentile among all lineups leaguewide (per Cleaning the Glass). The defense is absolutely smothering.
Trading for Sabonis or Davis would have put an expensive roadblock in the way of Murray-Boyles' career, relegating him to the bench for years to come. That may still happen, since this franchise has a bizarre love affair with Poeltl, but he is a player that CMB can overtake.
The Trade Deadline may have been a dud for the Raptors and their fans, but it was a a massive gift to Collin Murray-Boyles. Now he has a chance to go out and make it worth something.