Toronto Raptors Receive: G Russell Westbrook, 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2028 First-Round Pick (Swap – LAL), 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL) 

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Fred VanVleet, G/F Gary Trent Jr., F/C Thaddeus Young 

All that said, these are not easy decisions to make. If they were, they would have already been made. 

That’s exactly why the deadline is typically so active. Teams that are looking to blow up their roster will wait to make sure they don’t get hot enough to avoid that fate.

Meanwhile, teams that are looking to upgrade will hold out for the best deal they can get. 

In all likelihood, the Raptors would rather not blow this core up. There’s a lot of talent on this team. Sure, they’ve underperformed so far this season, but they could easily turn it around. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers & Toronto Raptors Updates

On the other hand, it’s hard to get a read on the Lakers. It’s possible that they don’t want to part with the draft capital they’d need, in order to make significant changes.

With that said, it may be that they’re waiting for the best upgrade they can make. 

Is this it?