Latest Raptors Trade Report Might Make Celtics Fans Uncomfortable

The Toronto Raptors have been arguably the most surprising team in the Eastern Conference this season, outside of the Jayson Tatum-less Boston Celtics. Toronto has been neck and neck with Boston in the standings for much of the year. Entering Friday, the Raptors were a game and a half back of the Celts.

Long story short, Toronto is a potential playoff matchup for Boston this year, not to mention a legit competitor in the Celtics’ quest to secure as high a seed as possible during the regular season.

This makes any big moves the Raptors pull off before Feb. 5 something for the Celtics to monitor. And according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Toronto might be in play to swing a blockbuster deal for All-Star center Domantas Sabonis.

“Sources say that Raptors personnel are … messaging that Toronto isn’t actively pursuing Memphis’ Ja Morant … even though the Grizzlies continue to welcome inquiries for Morant,” Fischer wrote on Thursday (subscription required). “But I have been told by various NBA figures that the Raptors are still intrigued by the prospect of pursuing Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis.”

Sabonis would present a real problem for the Celtics, who have struggled at times against strong frontcourt players this season.

Early on this year, Sabonis showed flashes of his usual dominance, including a season-high 34 points and 11 rebounds in a November 14 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

However, a partially torn meniscus sidelined him starting November 19, causing him to miss nearly two months. Initially projected for three to four weeks, his absence extended further.

Sabonis made his comeback on January 16 against the Washington Wizards, contributing 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists in 21 minutes off the bench during a 128-115 win. In subsequent games, he played limited roles: eight points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes versus Portland on January 18, and six points with 10 rebounds in 17 minutes against Miami on January 20. He sat out January 21 against Toronto for knee maintenance but was cleared for the January 23 matchup with Cleveland.

The point is, Sabonis is healthy again. Through 14 games this year, he’s averaging 15.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, shooting 51.9 percent from the field, though his minutes remain managed at the moment.