The Toronto Raptors drafted Colin Murray Boyless on their ninth overall pick in the NBA Draft, but they tried to trade the selection for the champion.
The Toronto Raptors have revealed that it’s all offseason and that they’re aiming for the stars to add to their roster to win now. Instead, they drafted Colin Murray Boyless to 9th overall and did not address the needs of the center.
Masai Ujiri, architect of the 2019 Championship team, was rejected from his role on Friday, and the Raptors appear to be all-in to the core supported by general manager Bobby Webster.
To close the roster, the Raptors made a desperate offer to the Boston Celtics.
Between Immanuel Cointley, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and Jakob Poeltl, the Raptors are at the heart of making noise in the weak Eastern tournament, but their title hopes are unfounded.
The New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and even the Indiana Pacers will be better than next season.
Ujiri frantically bid to compete for his work and possibly save him, calling the Boston Celtics about Derrick White’s deal.
“There were reports that the Raptors offered No. 9 pick for Derrick White,” Zach Lowe told the podcast. “It’s said to be true, but it allegedly happened a month and a half ago after Jason Tatum got injured and Boston laughed at the offer and said Derrick White needed more than nine times.”
Perhaps the Raptors could have given White more capital, but the NBA and Olympic champions are expected to fit well with Tatum and Jalen Brown’s core and be central to Boston when he’s healthy in 2026-27.
It was clear that the Celtics would make some moves before the offseason officially began.
Tatum’s injuries are likely to keep them out of conflict next season, with their bloated salary well beyond the second apron.
Brown, White, Julieu Holiday and Christapsporzingis were all included in the trade rumors. The team is expected to make a move after Boston gets under the apron by trading his holidays for Portland and Atlanta.
The ninth overall pick was attractive, but it wasn’t enough for the Celtics to say goodbye to the core players, especially after they had already made cost-cutting efforts.
Mike Zarren, assistant general manager, said the team didn’t approach the Brown or White deal after the draft.