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Toronto Raptors' Starting Lineup Gets A Massive Shakeup After Brandon Ingram Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Svyato Rovenchuk | Last updated Feb 6, 2025 10:14 AM ET

The Toronto Raptors made their big move of the NBA Trade Deadline. There was skepticism around how 'real' the Raptors' interest was in Brandon Ingram, but everyone got their answer last night. Masai Ujiri and company made the move to acquire the New Orleans Pelicans star.

The Raptors sent Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, one first-round pick, and one second-rounder in exchange for Ingram, according to Shams Charania. While the former Pelicans forward is still working his way back from injury, which will likely delay his debut in Toronto for a little while, the addition of Ingram is sure to provide a shakeup to the starting unit for the Raptors.

The safe expectation for how Darko Rajakovic will roll out the starters, when everyone is healthy, should look like this.

Point Guard: Immanuel Quickley
Shooting Guard: RJ Barrett
Small Forward: Brandon Ingram
Power Forward: Scottie Barnes
Center: Jakob Poeltl

That projected lineup assumes that no one from the current core is dealt before 3PM this afternoon. However, other than Poeltl, none of those names have really come up in trade rumors. Plus, most of the rumors that have involved the Raptors starting center have been of little substance regarding the legitimate potential of him getting moved.

This should be the group for Raptors fans to get used to for, at the least, the rest of the 2024-25 NBA season.

Moving Gradey Dick back to the bench after a promising second-year campaign is not ideal. However, someone has to make way for the star player that is Ingram. It will almost certainly be Dick.

The Raptors are currently five and a half games back of the final Play-In spot in the Eastern Conference. Depending on how quickly everyone gets healthy, there will be reason to monitor whether the addition of Ingram takes the team out of prime positioning in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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