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The Toronto Raptors took a clear step forward in 2025-26. They finished 46-36, earned the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2022 before pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round. That was one of the organization’s main goals entering the season, but it also raised the stakes for the offseason. After winning 46 games and proving they were back in the playoff mix, the Raptors entered the summer looking for a move that could raise their offensive ceiling and push them closer to becoming top contenders in the East.
Toronto had already been linked to star-level names before Thursday’s latest report. Giannis Antetokounmpo was a long-running speculative target before Milwaukee ultimately dealt him to Miami, and the Raptors were also floated in league chatter involving high-end offensive guards such as Ja Morant. Toronto has long needed another proven offensive engine to complement Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley, and that search may now include another All-Star guard.
According to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer and Marc Stein, the Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves have emerged as two of the teams with trade interest in Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball.
The report came shortly after ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed that “multiple teams are strongly pursuing LaMelo Ball right now,” that Charlotte is engaged in conversations, and that while Ball wants to be in Charlotte, “if the price is met he could very well be on the move.”
Ball, 24, has already built one of the strongest résumés of any young point guard in the league. He won Rookie of the Year in 2021, made his first All-Star team in 2022 and has developed into the centerpiece of Charlotte’s offense whenever healthy. But the biggest issue in his career has been availability.
Before 2025-26, he had not played more than 47 games in a season since 2021-22.
However, this past season was different. Ball played 72 games and averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals while making 3.8 three-pointers per game. He gave Charlotte high-level shot creation, live-dribble playmaking and spacing, and his durability in 2025-26 was a major reason his trade value climbed again.
The Raptors had an elite defense last season but finished only 15th in offensive rating and still lacked a true high-volume creator who can bend a defense off the dribble every night.
Ball would definitely address that loophole. He is one of the league’s best transition passers, can run high pick-and-roll at volume, creates pull-up three-point pressure and would give Toronto another player capable of consistently generating offense late in games.
Pairing him with Barnes would give Darko Rajakovic a bigger playmaking backcourt-frontcourt combination, while Ingram and Quickley would benefit from the cleaner looks Ball creates.
Ball is still under contract and Charlotte does not have to move him, but if the franchise chooses to listen to offers, a trade will likely cost the Raptors substantial assets.
Continue reading...
Toronto had already been linked to star-level names before Thursday’s latest report. Giannis Antetokounmpo was a long-running speculative target before Milwaukee ultimately dealt him to Miami, and the Raptors were also floated in league chatter involving high-end offensive guards such as Ja Morant. Toronto has long needed another proven offensive engine to complement Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley, and that search may now include another All-Star guard.
According to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer and Marc Stein, the Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves have emerged as two of the teams with trade interest in Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball.
The report came shortly after ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed that “multiple teams are strongly pursuing LaMelo Ball right now,” that Charlotte is engaged in conversations, and that while Ball wants to be in Charlotte, “if the price is met he could very well be on the move.”
Ball, 24, has already built one of the strongest résumés of any young point guard in the league. He won Rookie of the Year in 2021, made his first All-Star team in 2022 and has developed into the centerpiece of Charlotte’s offense whenever healthy. But the biggest issue in his career has been availability.
Before 2025-26, he had not played more than 47 games in a season since 2021-22.
However, this past season was different. Ball played 72 games and averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals while making 3.8 three-pointers per game. He gave Charlotte high-level shot creation, live-dribble playmaking and spacing, and his durability in 2025-26 was a major reason his trade value climbed again.
The Raptors had an elite defense last season but finished only 15th in offensive rating and still lacked a true high-volume creator who can bend a defense off the dribble every night.
Ball would definitely address that loophole. He is one of the league’s best transition passers, can run high pick-and-roll at volume, creates pull-up three-point pressure and would give Toronto another player capable of consistently generating offense late in games.
Pairing him with Barnes would give Darko Rajakovic a bigger playmaking backcourt-frontcourt combination, while Ingram and Quickley would benefit from the cleaner looks Ball creates.
Ball is still under contract and Charlotte does not have to move him, but if the franchise chooses to listen to offers, a trade will likely cost the Raptors substantial assets.
Continue reading...
