The Raptors were reported to be interested in Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball. The Minnesota Timberwolves got him first, sending Naz Reid and future draft capital to the Hornets.
Toronto’s problem now is where to go instead. Over the last two seasons the team has built around Scottie Barnes, adding Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. That group ended a playoff drought dating back to 2021-22, but the Raptors are aiming higher than a first-round exit.
Whether they were ever really in the Ball sweepstakes is unclear. The Sports Illustrated writer covering the team said we may never know, and that the Hornets simply found a deal they liked better than anything Toronto could have offered.
Quickley in the frame
With Ball gone, the Raptors are expected to pivot, and that could put Quickley’s place in Toronto at risk. He averaged 16.4 points and 5.9 assists across 70 appearances for the club. When healthy he can create his own shot, score from all three levels and bring energy, which is close to what the team wants at point guard.
The trouble is the “when healthy” part. Quickley missed the entire playoff series against Cleveland, and he sat out 49 games in 2024-25 with a partial tear of his UCL. Toronto may decide a more reliable option exists on the open market.
Moving him would carry risk, as the SI piece puts it. Championship teams are rarely built from safe moves, though, and with Barnes and the rest of the young core entering their prime, the Raptors have reason to look at every way of improving.
