Toronto Raptors trade for Chris Paul but there's a huge catch

This would have been a huge trade for the Toronto Raptors... if the year were 2019.

However, it's 2026, and Chris Paul isn't the player he used to be.

Not only that, but the newest member of the Raptors will reportedly never play for the team.

So, what the heck is going on?

On Wednesday, the Raptors acquired Paul in a three-team trade with the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets, according to multiple reports.

The Clippers got nothing in return for the deal, aside from saving $7 million and clearing a roster spot.

Paul hadn't played for the Clippers since Dec. 1. He originally signed there to help them compete for a championship, in what was expected to be his final season. Instead, they got off to a 5-16 start before the Clippers banished Paul from the team.

For the Nets, they received a 2032 second-round pick from Toronto, which was basically compensation for taking on the contract of Raptors' 25-year-old shooting guard Ochai Agbaji.

That brings us to the anticlimactic acquisition of Paul.

The 12-time NBA All-Star joins the Raptors in what's nothing more than a salary cap move.

"Chris Paul will never step foot in a game with the Raptors. They are expected to either trade or waive him by tomorrow or after the deadline," NBA insider Shams Charania said on ESPN. 

By trading away Agbaji and acquiring Paul, the Raptors are now out of the luxury tax. Because they aren't requiring Paul to report to the team, his cap hit doesn't count on their books. 

The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET. If Paul isn't traded as part of a larger deal by a team that tries to mimic Toronto, he'll likely be waived, ending his illustrious career.