NBA Rumors: Raptors Interested In Kristaps Porzingis

Today's NBA Trade Deadline has been all smoke, no fire thus far as no official deals have been made as of writing. Two teams that have been linked in the past are being mentioned again as possible trade partners as the Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks are said to be discussing a possible deal. While Raptors point guard Goran Dragic has long been rumored to want to play in Dallas alongside fellow Slovenian Luka Doncic, you might be surprised by who may be coming back the other way.

It's being reported that the Raptors are interested in trading for former All-Star Kristaps Porzingis, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report:

The Dallas Mavericks have discussed a Kristaps Porzingis trade with Toronto, per @JakeLFischer

Dallas is a potential landing spot for Goran Dragic pic.twitter.com/m6S7HL5Clc
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) February 10, 2022

Porzingis is supremely talented, but the smooth-shooting big man has struggled this season, and what was once thought of as a dream-pairing between him and Doncic, simply hasn't meshed as well as hoped. Moving Porzingis for Dragic should not only improve team chemistry, but Dragic's expiring $18 million contract will give the Mavs some flexibility this summer as well.

As for the Raptors, the acquisition of a player like Porzingis is intriguing, though his exact fit isn't obvious as he shares some similarities to the Raptors' Pascal Siakam - who isn't suspected to be included in a potential deal for the 7'3" Latvian.