We’re a month away from the 2026 NBA trade deadline, folks. While there’s not much movement on the trade front so far, you can bet that plenty of rumors and big developments will start circulating as we get closer to the excitement surrounding February 5.
Last year, Toronto surprised many by embracing a winning mindset, even though they weren’t seen as top threats in the Eastern Conference. They made a bold move by trading for Brandon Ingram, a star in need of a change of scenery. So far in the 2025-26 season, that trade has shown to relatively pay off for the Raptors, even though there’s still plenty of room for improvement across the team.
And heading into the 2026 trade deadline, it’s still pretty unclear whether the Raptors will adopt that bold mindset again and go after another big star, or if they’ll focus on more lateral moves. The latter of which is exactly the kind of scenario discussed in a recent Bleacher Report piece titled “3 Trade Targets for Every NBA Team in 2026” by Dan Favale.
Three trade targets worth the Raptors’ attention
In it, Favale lists these names for Toronto: Day'Ron Sharpe from the Brooklyn Nets, Saddiq Bey from the New Orleans Pelicans, and Jock Landale from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Now you might look at this list and think, man, that’s not exactly the most star-studded trio to help Toronto, but each guy brings some interesting potential fits. I like to think the reasoning behind these choices ties back to the rumors that if Toronto is going to be active in the trade market, they’ll prioritize getting under the luxury tax.
Based on the salaries of these players, the team can work around that while also adding a solid rotation piece. Realistically, each deal would likely consist of the expiring $6.3 million contract of Ochai Agbaji, and possibly some second-rounders to sweeten the offer.
I've been on board with the idea of Sharpe coming to Toronto for a while. He's still pretty young at just 24, and he offers a budget-friendly option for the Raptors to maximize as they push for a playoff run. He's exactly what I think the Raptors are missing — a strong, burly five-man with defensive versatility, solid rebounding prowess, and a ton of energy and toughness. Plus, there's the Montverde Academy connection with Scottie Barnes.
Next up is Saddiq Bey. I was a big fan of his going into the 2020 NBA Draft and kept a close eye on his progress with the Pistons. He flashed some moments, like his career-high 51-point game in 2022, but he didn’t quite establish himself as a core building block for Detroit. He was then traded to the Hawks, and later joined the Wizards, where he never actually played a game due to a torn ACL — and now, he's a member of the lowly Pelicans.
I think since Agbaji hasn't made much impact for Toronto this year anyway, flipping him for a better on-paper replacement like Bey would be an upgrade. Bey has shown potential to trade suitors that he's still a valuable piece off the bench as a 3-and-D wing. Although so far in the 2025-26 season, Bey is still working on boosting his three-point percentage to a more desirable clip, currently sitting at 31.8 percent. But averaging 15.1 points and 5.8 rebounds, even on the Western Conference's worst team, is still impressive enough to potentially catch Toronto's interest.
And lastly, Jock Landale is currently on a minimum contract with Memphis, where he's contributed significantly to their struggles at the center position. However, Memphis might face challenges in trying to extend him this offseason, so this could be their chance to reroute him to a team that can also use his offensive rebounding skills and floor spacing ability (currently a 40.0 percent shooter from deep on 2.7 attempts per game)
I think of all the names, I’m leaning most toward Day'Ron Sharpe. I think it would be a smart move both from a roster perspective and a business standpoint if they can use his Bird rights to secure a longer-term deal in Toronto down the line. Ultimately, it will depend on what management decides is the best course of action as February approaches.