After a recent five-game winning streak, the Raptors have started working their way back up the standings, inching closer to contention for a play-in spot. But with the deadline of February 6 looming, there's still work to be done.
Should the Raptors want to strengthen their postseason push, here are three key moves they need to look at before the deadline:
Going after Myles Turner
All season long, the Raptors have struggled with center depth. Jakob Poeltl has been rock-solid, but when he’s off the floor, Toronto’s interior presence disappears. He’s a workhorse, but even he can’t do it all. The Raptors need a reliable backup—someone who can protect the rim, crash the boards, and provide some inside scoring when Poeltl takes a breather.
Myles Turner is exactly the kind of player the Raptors need in the middle. His elite rim protection would take some of the defensive load off Jakob Poeltl, giving Toronto two solid options at the five. With Turner in the mix, the Raptors could finally have the interior depth they’ve been missing all season.
Myles Turner isn’t just a defensive anchor—he’s a legitimate floor spacer. He’s knocking down a career-high 40% from three this season, making him a nightmare matchup for opposing bigs. His ability to stretch the floor would give RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes the space they need to thrive, attacking the paint, collapsing the defense, and creating open looks for shooters.
With Turner at the five, opposing centers would constantly be caught between protecting the rim and closing out on a knockdown shooter.
A deal with New York
The New York Knicks have recently shown interest in Chris Boucher, which naturally gets Raptors fans wondering—what could Toronto get in return? With the trade deadline coming up, it’s worth asking if there’s a deal out there that helps the Raptors while moving on from Boucher.
Josh Hart would be a solid target for the Raptors. He might be just 6'4", but he plays way bigger—averaging a ridiculous 10 rebounds per game this season. Arguably the hardest worker in the league, Hart gives max effort every night, deflecting passes, diving for loose balls, and making the kind of hustle plays that don’t always show up in the box score.
On top of that, he’s a reliable scorer, averaging three more points per game than Boucher this season. His energy, toughness, and all-around game would be a perfect fit for a Raptors team looking to add grit and versatility before the trade deadline.
Hart fits the Raptors' grit-and-grind identity perfectly, bringing an energy that only a handful of players in the league can match on a nightly basis. However, the contracts don’t line up—Boucher is making $11 million annually, while Hart is earning over $20 million.
For Toronto to make a deal work, they’d need to include a couple of other role players to match salaries. It wouldn’t be the easiest move to pull off, but if the Raptors are serious about adding toughness and versatility, it could be well worth it.