Raptors Rumors: Webster, Morant, AD, Agbaji, Sharpe
There have been rumblings around the NBA that Raptors general manager Bobby Webster – who is in the last year of his contract – is facing some pressure to accelerate his team’s contention timeline by making a significant in-season deal, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. However, Grange hears that’s not actually the case.
Multiple sources tell Sportsnet that Webster and the Raptors are already having “meaningful” discussions about a contract extension and that the team’s head of basketball operations has a very strong relationship with Keith Pelley, the president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (the Raptors’ parent company).
“There’s a really good vibe,” one of Grange’s sources said of the relationship between Webster and Raptors ownership. “Everyone is comfortable with each other. The communication is good. It seems like there is a big-picture view of the whole thing. It’s kind of (an) old-school approach to dealing with management. There’s a lot of runway, and no rush. Everything has cooled off (since former Raptors president Masai Ujiri was let go last June). They’ve really come a long way, considering there was an executive search this past summer.”
Following Ujiri’s exit from Toronto, the Raptors conducted a search for a new lead basketball executive but ultimately decided to promote Webster, who had worked in the front office under Ujiri for over a decade. Pelley has no regrets about that decision and told Grange that Webster’s contract status won’t affect the team’s in-season decisions on the trade market.
“There is no pressure regarding the trade deadline or his contract,” Pelley said. “And he is 100 per cent aware of that. The team is moving in the right direction and I’m convinced that Bobby will make the right moves, at the right time, to make us better. This team under Bobby’s direction, will contend for championships.”
We have more on the Raptors:
- While Toronto has been linked to Ja Morant since word broke that Memphis is considering trading him, one insider who spoke to Grange insisted that the Raptors won’t be a serious suitor for the Grizzlies point guard. Grange also expresses skepticism about the likelihood of an Anthony Davis trade between the Mavericks and Raptors, noting that the big man – who will turn 33 in March – is the sort of win-now target who probably doesn’t make sense for Toronto right now.
- To that point, while Grange doesn’t rule out the possibility of the team making a big move sooner rather than later, he hears from multiple sources that the Raptors are prepared to be patient and may be more likely to take a big swing a year from now. As Grange observes, Toronto has a fairly young roster and head coach Darko Rajakovic has repeatedly used the word “rebuild” this season when discussing his team’s progress. While I wouldn’t describe this Raptors team – which is operating in luxury tax territory – as rebuilding, Grange’s point is that the Raptors believe there’s more room for internal development and aren’t in a rush to go all-in right away.
- Ducking the tax and adding frontcourt help still appear to be the primary deadline goals for the Raptors, according to Grange, who reiterates that wing Ochai Agbaji and his $6.4MM expiring contract is the team’s top trade candidate.
- In addition to Magic big man Goga Bitadze, who was connected to the Raptors earlier in the season, Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe is another potential frontcourt target to watch for Toronto, Grange says. He has also heard from multiple sources that second-year Pelicans center Yves Missi is available, though the Raptors’ level of interest in Missi is unclear.
Knicks Have Talked To Multiple Teams About Trading Towns
The Knicks‘ 2025/26 season reached a new low point with Monday’s 17-point home loss to the injury-ravaged Mavericks, writes Steve Popper of Newsday (subscriber link). New York trailed by as many as 30 points in the first half and was down 28 at halftime, when fans at Madison Square Garden “serenaded” the team with boos.
The Knicks have now dropped nine of their past 11 games and are in danger of falling into play-in territory after holding a 23-9 record three weeks ago. In the 10 games leading into Monday, they had the second-worst defensive rating in the NBA, Popper notes.
The team’s effort was particularly dispiriting considering the Knicks had their full complement of players available — Jalen Brunson (right ankle sprain) and Josh Hart (right ankle soreness) both returned to action following injury absences.
“Guys are gonna be banged up, guys aren’t gonna be 100 percent, it’s the dog days of the season,” Hart said, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscription required). “But the effort, I think last year no matter what we did, the effort was there. I haven’t seen this kind of effort that we had today, it was embarrassing.”
Hart admitted prior to the game that his ankle isn’t fully healthy, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
“I want to be out there to try to help the team as much as I can so (the team’s recent struggles) did (influence his decision) a little bit; a combination of that, there’s the competitiveness and the impatience that I display,” Hart said.
Two weeks ago, owner James Dolan said he expected the team to — at minimum — reach the NBA Finals. He also expressed confidence in the team’s roster and chemistry. The Knicks were promptly blown out by the top-seeded Pistons and have a 2-6 record since that public interview.
Both Popper and Bondy point out that Dolan left his courtside seat at halftime and did not return for the second half. The last time Bondy recalls that happening was during a lopsided loss in 2019, when former executives Scott Perry and Steve Mills were forced to speak to reporters after the game. Then-coach David Fizdale was fired a few days later; Mills was dismissed not long after that.
Bondy isn’t advocating for the team to fire head coach Mike Brown, which he thinks would be “reactionary and ill-advised.” But Bondy does believe a major roster shake-up is in order, and says everyone aside from Brunson and Hart should be available. That includes Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, two players the Knicks acquired in previous blockbuster trades.
Big man Towns, who has struggled to find his form under Brown, was singled out with boos twice in the fourth quarter, per Popper — once when checking out with just under five minutes remaining, and again 29 seconds later when he checked back in for Mitchell Robinson, who picked up two quick fouls.
Towns said he understood the fans’ reaction, considering the Knicks “didn’t really have a chance” to win, as Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press relays.
“Fans are doing their part and we’ve got to do our part,” Towns said.
According to Popper, “whispers” have begun to circulate around the league about the possibility of the Knicks trading Towns, whose name popped up in rumors over the summer involving the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo. League sources tell Popper the Knicks have discussed potential Towns deals with multiple teams, including the Grizzlies, Magic and Hornets.
For what it’s worth, Bondy proposes a fake trade that would send Towns and unspecified salary filler to the Trail Blazers for Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant.
Injury Notes: Reid, Giddey, M. Wagner, Alvarado, H. Jones
Big man Naz Reid, who was starting in place of Rudy Gobert, was ruled out after playing just five minutes in Saturday’s loss at San Antonio due to soreness in his left shoulder, the Timberwolves announced (via Twitter).
It’s unclear if Reid, the 2024 Sixth Man of the Year, will miss additional time as a result of the shoulder injury.
The 26-year-old forward/center had been playing some of his best basketball of the season in the four games leading up to Saturday, averaging 21.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 block per night on .604/.577/.700 shooting during that brief stretch (29.8 minutes per contest).
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Bulls guard Josh Giddey has been assigned to the G League’s Windy City Bulls as he works his way back from a left hamstring strain, per the team (Twitter link). Assuming Sunday’s practice goes well, Giddey should be back in action either Tuesday against the Clippers or Thursday at Minnesota, tweets K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network.
- While there’s no indication that he experienced a setback, Magic center Moritz Wagner was ruled out of Sunday’s game vs. Memphis with what the team called left knee injury management (Twitter link). The German big man just made his season debut last Sunday after missing most of 2024/25 with a torn ACL in his left knee.
- A pair of trade candidates for the Pelicans continue to be sidelined with injuries. Guard Jose Alvarado will miss his seventh consecutive game Sunday at Houston due to a left oblique strain, while forward Herbert Jones remains out with a right ankle sprain (link to injury report). Jones, who made the All-Defensive First Team in 2023/24, will miss his 14th game as a result of the injury.
Jalen Suggs To Miss Seventh Straight Game On Sunday
- Jalen Suggs has already been ruled out for Sunday’s contest in London, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link). It will be the seventh straight missed game for the Magic guard since he suffered an MCL contusion on his right knee early this month.
Eastern Rumors: Ty. Jones, Ivey, Pacers, Okongwu, Raptors, Sixers
The Magic have made calls to multiple teams to explore the possibility of trading veteran point guard Tyus Jones in exchange for some second-round draft capital, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
Jones, 29, signed a one-year, $7MM contract with Orlando over the summer but has played a limited role with the team and is performing well below his usual standard. He has averaged 3.2 points and 2.4 assists in 16.5 minutes per game across 40 outings (eight starts), while making just 35.3% of his shots from the floor, including 29.5% from beyond the three-point line.
The Magic are currently operating about $5.6MM above the luxury tax line and may be motivated to duck out of tax territory at this season’s deadline. Their roster will only get more expensive beginning in 2026/27 when Paolo Banchero‘s maximum-salary rookie scale extension takes effect, so avoiding the tax this season would postpone the repeater clock for another year.
Here are several more items of interest shared by Fischer from around the Eastern Conference:
- While the Pistons still aren’t looking to make a major in-season deal, they’ve gauged Jaden Ivey‘s value on the trade market, per Fischer. The former fifth overall pick has played a reduced role (16.9 MPG) this season in his return from a major leg injury and will be eligible for restricted free agency at season’s end.
- As the Pacers continue to scour the trade market for a long-term answer at the center spot, Hawks big man Onyeka Okongwu is among the players they’ve inquired about, Fischer writes. There’s no indication that Atlanta engaged in discussions involving Okongwu, who is averaging a career-high 16.0 points and 31.9 minutes per game.
- Rivals view the Raptors as one of the teams most interested in making a significant in-season move, according to Fischer, who notes that Toronto was the only team besides Washington with real interest in Trae Young. The Raptors have also been connected repeatedly to Anthony Davis and Domantas Sabonis, and Fischer suggests they’re a potential suitor worth watching for Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant.
- The Sixers and Grizzlies had some trade conversations in mid-December, Fischer says, clarifying that those discussions didn’t involve Morant. Based on “recent synergy” between them, Philadelphia and Memphis could end up being involved in the same transaction if either club needs help from a third team to facilitate a deal, Fischer notes.
Franz Wagner Poised To Return For Berlin Game
Magic forward Franz Wagner isn’t on the injury report for the team’s game against the Grizzlies on Thursday in Berlin and will be available to make his return from a high ankle sprain, tweets Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel.
Wagner injured his left ankle in a December 7 matchup with New York and has missed Orlando’s past 16 games as a result of the injury. In 23 full games prior to Dec. 7, he had averaged 23.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in 34.5 minutes per night, with a .487/.354/.823 shooting line.
The timing of Wagner’s return is especially meaningful since he and his brother – and Magic teammate – Moritz Wagner were born in Berlin. Thursday’s game represents the first time the NBA has played a regular season game in Germany, and the Wagner brothers have appreciated getting the opportunity to show off their hometown to teammates this week, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
Fans in Berlin will get the chance to see both Wagners in action on Thursday, as Moritz made his long-awaited return from an ACL tear on Sunday. Thursday’s game will be just his second outing since he suffered that injury in December of 2024.
“It felt awesome,” the big man said after Sunday’s contest, according to Beede. “When you work so hard behind the scenes and you get to see the fans, you get to see the game live but you’re really not participating, to be able to engage after such a long time, it’s really cool and very fulfilling.”
The Magic have dealt with a series of injuries affecting key players during the first half of the season, but have managed to hold onto a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference with a 22-18 record.
Even with the Wagner brothers both back on the court, Orlando isn’t quite at full strength. Guard Jalen Suggs will miss a sixth consecutive game on Thursday due to a right knee MCL contusion.
Injury Notes: F. Wagner, Green, Curry, Williams
The Magic are gearing up for a game against the Grizzlies in Berlin. Their German star, Franz Wagner, is hoping that he can make his return from injury by then, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link).
“I feel good,” Wagner said. “I’ve been working really hard the last couple of weeks to get back as soon as I can. Hopefully that will be in Berlin. But regardless of if I play or not, it’s going to be just a true full circle moment for Mo [Wagner] and I.”
Wagner has missed the last 16 games for Orlando, including Sunday’s 128-118 win over the Pelicans, as he recovers from a high ankle sprain. In his 24 games played this season, he has averaged 22.7 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds.
“Growing up going as little kids to that gym to watch the pros play and now bring the NBA game there, is pretty special for us,” Wagner said. “So we’re just going to the try and enjoy every second of it, take it all in and appreciate the opportunity.”
The Magic are currently tied with the Cavs for the sixth seed with a record of 22-18, and are hoping that Wagner’s return can help them start to move back up the standings.
We have more injury news from around the league:
- Jalen Green continued ramping up his on-court work on Friday with the Suns‘ coaching staff, writes Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. “You’re going to feel some general soreness just by getting out there on the court and that’s normal,” coach Jordan Ott said prior to Phoenix’s game against the Knicks. “That’s not specific to the injury. He’s got to keep going. He’s going to have to fight through some that overall just soreness back on the court. Now he’s getting bodies. The beating and banging with the bodies and know we’re right there. Got to get across the finish line.” Ott noted that Green will be on a minutes restriction when he returns, but that he’s expected to start. “He’s been out for multiple months. There’s obviously going to be some type of target range or number that we try to get him to,” Ott said. “He’ll definitely be in the starting lineup as soon as he gets back and ready to go. We need his speed, his ability to attack off the dribble. We need him, but we need him healthy.”
- Seth Curry has missed the last 12 games with a sciatic nerve-related injury and he’s not expected to be back on the court for the Warriors anytime soon. According to the team (Twitter link), Curry has been working with Golden State’s training staff and will be reevaluated in two weeks. He has played just two games for the Warriors this year, both at the start of December. In his season debut, he scored 14 points in just under 18 minutes while hitting six of his seven shots.
- Jalen Williams wore a heated glove on his shooting wrist when he was on the bench during the Thunder‘s win over the Heat on Sunday, reports Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman (via Twitter). Williams is still feeling the effects of the hand surgery that sidelined him for the start of the season, and expects that will be the case for a while. “This injury is not something where you get it, have two hand surgeries and then it’s, ‘Alright, you’re good to go,'” he said. “It’s something over the course of a year, a year and a half and having summers to really figure it out, where it’ll be really back to normal.”
Atlantic Notes: Poeltl, Raptors, Agbaji, Brown, MPJ, Thomas
Starting Raptors center Jakob Poeltl has made one brief appearance since mid-December due to a lower back strain and will miss his 10th straight game on Sunday. While the Austrian big man has been cleared for contact work and has been ramping up his activity, he’s still experiencing discomfort during workouts, sources tell Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca.
In another story for Sportsnet, Grange reports that Poeltl’s recovery progress has “stalled.” The 30-year-old told Grange his workout in Boston on Thursday was “so-so” and Grange hears Friday’s session wasn’t much better.
Poeltl’s ongoing back issue is partly why the Raptors are actively looking for help in the middle, Grange writes. Goga Bitadze is one player Toronto is monitoring, according to Grange, who points out that Moritz Wagner‘s return and Orlando’s future cap situation could make the Magic center expendable.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Raptors guard/forward Ochai Agbaji received a DNP-CD on Friday at Boston even though the team was playing without Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. Agbaji has been involved in trade rumors due to his $6.4MM expiring contract and declining play, and he acknowledges several young wings on the roster have struggled to find consistency this season. “It’s obviously been tough. Some guys are trying to fall into that role and find their rhythm too,” Agbaji told Grange. “… We kind of see that and everyone in the room sees that too, and how valuable we are to the team and what we can bring to the team, so it’s just a matter of knowing your role and trying to be the best at it. (But) I feel like our bench – our total team – yes, we play our good basketball, but I feel like there’s so much more to us, individually and as a team collectively, that we just haven’t shown in one game or over a span of, like, a week, or anything like that.”
- Celtics star Jaylen Brown ripped the officials, including calling out crew chief Curtis Blair by name, following Saturday’s loss to San Antonio, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. The Spurs attempted 20 free throws, compared to four for the Celtics. “If we can’t get to the free throw line and teams are allowed to be physical and bump us off our spots, etc., then it’s hard to win games like that,” Brown said. “We shot four free throws tonight and lost the game by four. Not to say that’s the whole game, the whole story. We got to be better in spots. I got to be better in spots. But goddamn. I’m driving to the basket. I’m physical. I don’t flop. I don’t shy away from contact. I go up strong. I’m athletic. And nothing. Zero free throws tonight. The inconsistency is f—ing crazy. Give me the fine.”
- Nets forward Michael Porter Jr., who is being held out of Sunday’s game at Memphis for rest purposes, is having a career year for Brooklyn and his head coach believes he deserves to be recognized for his strong play, according to C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News. “I mean, he’s an All-Star,” Jordi Fernandez said. “He’s played like an All-Star, you just got to watch him play, and how much better he’s gotten.”
- Cam Thomas has been coming off the bench for the Nets since he returned from a hamstring strain and Fernandez has been pleased with the fifth-year guard’s recent performances, as Andrew Crane of The New York Post relays. “I’m very happy with the second group,” Fernandez said after the Nets lost 121-105 to the Clippers on Friday. “They’re trying to play the right way. I’m happy and trying to focus more on [Thomas] because that’s the superpower that he has, and defenses have to focus on him. And then he’ll figure it out when he scores and takes the shot, when he passes the ball.”
Penda Receives First Career Start Friday
- Rookie Noah Penda received his first career start in Friday’s loss to Philadelphia amid multiple Magic injuries, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. Known as a strong defender, the French forward is averaging 9.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG and 1.7 BPG over his last three appearances (29.3 MPG).
Magic’s Moritz Wagner To Make Season Debut Sunday
Magic big man Moritz Wagner will make his season debut on Sunday against New Orleans, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel confirms (via Twitter) that Wagner will suit up on Sunday, barring an unexpected setback. Wagner is officially listed as probable for Sunday’s game, Beede tweets.
Wagner’s last NBA appearance came on December 21, 2024, when he tore the ACL in his left knee. Head coach Jamahl Mosley said on Friday that the 28-year-old has been ramping up his activity in recent weeks, including doing contact work and participating in scrimmages.
The 25th overall pick of the 2018 draft, Wagner bounced around the league over the course of his first three seasons but has become a reliable bench scorer with the Magic. He was having a career year in 2024/25 prior to suffering the major knee injury, averaging 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds on .562/.360/.718 shooting in 30 games (18.8 minutes per contest).
Wagner’s return will be a welcome boost for an offense that currently ranks just 20th in the league. The Magic have struggled with consistency all season and are currently 21-18, the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
The fact that Wagner is expected to make his season debut tomorrow means he should also be available for next Thursday’s contest in his hometown of Berlin, Germany, giving the eight-year veteran another key event to look forward to.
Wagner’s younger brother, star forward Franz Wagner, will be out again Sunday as he continues to recover from a high left ankle sprain, Beede notes. Jalen Suggs (right knee MCL contusion) remains out as well.