The Toronto Raptors are a relatively new NBA franchise. Having played their first season in 1995, the NBA's only current Canadian franchise doesn't quite have the illustrious history that many other NBA franchises do.
At the same time, the Raptors are defending champions and they never would've gotten to the position they're in now without making several deals at the NBA trade deadline over the years. Both good and bad, the decisions made in late-February have shaped the Raptors into the franchise they are today.
February 22, 1996
Toronto acquires center Sharone Wright from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a pair of power forwards in Tony Massenburg and Ed Pinckney.
Despite making the 1995 All-Rookie team with the 76ers, Wright failed to live up to the hype in Toronto. Wright suffered multiple injuries in an unfortunate car accident and played just over two seasons with the Raptors.
February 20, 1997
The Raptors traded for Milwaukee Bucks guard Shawn Respert, giving up big man Acie Earl in the deal.
Respert played 74 games for the Raptors over the next season and a half averaging 5.5 points in 15.0 minutes per game.
February 22, 2001
The Raptors sent veteran guards Muggsy Bogues and Mark Jackson to the New York Knicks. In return, Toronto acquired point guard Chris Childs and a 2002 first-round pick that was owned by the Seattle Supersonics.
The Raptors also traded for power forward Jerome Williams and center Eric Montross sending Tyrone Corbin, Kornel David, Corliss Williamson and a 2005 first-round pick that was owned by the Orlando Magic in exchange.
February 22, 2007
The Portland Trailblazers sent 28-year-old guard Juan Dixon to the Raptors in exchange for fifth-year wing Fred Jones.
Dixon would play 62 games for Toronto over the next season and a half, averaging 7.1 points per game in 17.9 minutes per contest.
February 21, 2008
Less than a year later, the Raptors sent Dixon to the Detroit Pistons for 7-foot-2 Slovenian center Primož Brezec and cash considerations.
Despite his impressive size, Brezec would last just half a season in Toronto where he only played an average of 8.5 minutes per game.
February 13, 2009
The Raptors sent Jamario Moon, Jermaine O'Neal, 2010 second-round pick and a 2011 first-round pick to the Miami Heat in exchange for Marcus Banks and Shawn Marion.
That 2011 first-round pick would later convey to Toronto, where they selected Jonas Valanciunas fifth overall.
February 19, 2009
Toronto sent a 2014 second-round pick to the Boston Celtics in exchange for seven-footer Patrick O'Bryant.
The Raptors then sold the rights to point guard Will Solomon to the Sacramento Kings for a 2014 second-round pick.
O'Bryant played very sparingly for the Raptors and was out of the league a year later.
March 15, 2012
During the lockout season, the Raptors sent guard Leandro Barbosa to the Indiana Pacers and got a 2012 second-round pick and cash considerations in return.
February 21, 2013
The Raptors acquired 27-year-old point guard Sebastian Telfair from the Phoenix Suns and sent the rights to 7-foot-2 center Hamed Haddadi, a least-favorable 2014 second-round pick and a 2015 second-round pick swap to Phoenix.
Once considered one of the best high school prospects of all time, Telfair's NBA career was a big disappointment. His short stint with the Raptors was no different, as he only played in 13 games on 14.2 minutes per contest.
February 20, 2014
The Raptors added French wing Nando De Colo from the San Antonio Spurs and traded away former first-round pick Austin Daye as well as cash considerations.
De Colo would play 21 games for the Raptors that season, averaging 3.1 points in 9.1 minutes per game before returning to play in Europe.
February 23, 2017
After a short stint in Toronto, the Raptors traded away power forward Jared Sullinger to the Phoenix in exchange for P.J. Tucker. The Raptors also included second-round picks in 2017 and 2018 as well as cash considerations in the deal to the Suns.
Tucker spent just 24 games in Toronto before being traded to the Houston Rockets, where he currently serves as the team's starting center in their ultra small-ball lineup.
February 8, 2018
After three and a half uninspiring years in Toronto, the Raptors sent former first-round pick Bruno Cabloco to the Sacramento Kings for second-year shooting guard Malachi Richardson.
Richardson has hardly played in his season and a half in Toronto. This season, the former Syracuse star appeared in 22 contests, playing just 4.7 minutes per game.
February 7, 2019
In the team's most recent trade deadline deal, the Raptors acquired starting center Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a package that included C.J. Miles, Delon Wright, Jonas Valanciunas and a 2024 second-round pick.
While Valanciunas, Wright and Miles have all found success away from Toronto, Gasol has been an integral part of the Raptors being contenders in recent years even if he is no longer putting up the All-Star-caliber numbers he did in Memphis.
The same day, Toronto also shipped former top-10 pick Greg Monroe and a 2021 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for cash considerations.
Follow Us
Subscribe