Details of failed Toronto Raptors blockbuster trade revealed

It was no secret that the Toronto Raptors were looking to add size to help out on the glass at the 2025-26 NBA trade deadline, and a new report suggests the franchise came close to landing this three-time All-Star.

According to ESPN NBA Insider Anthony Slater, the Raptors were deep in talks to acquire 6-foot-10 centre Domantas Sabonis from the Sacramento Kings.

Slater revealed in an article for ESPN.com that Toronto reportedly offered Sacramento a trade package for Sabonis that included Canadian shooting guard RJ Barrett and Austrian centre Jakob Poeltl.

The Kings were interested; however, the franchise reportedly did not want to take on the $84 million remaining on Poeltl's contract. 

The Kings nearly traded Domantas Sabonis to the Raptors at the trade deadline for a package centered around RJ Barrett, per @anthonyVslater

​Sabonis welcomed the move, but the deal fell through because Toronto couldn’t offload Jakob Poeltl’s contract. pic.twitter.com/fcxjYCVPrB

— NBABase (@TheNBABase) August 5, 2026

Slater added that Sabonis was informed about the potential trade and welcomed the opportunity to join the Raptors before negotiations fell apart.

Sabonis, 30, is considered one of the best rebounders in the NBA and would've addressed the Raptors' biggest weakness — rebounding.

The Lithuanian star has averaged more than 10 rebounds per game in each of the past seven NBA seasons and led the league in rebounding three times during that span.

Rebounds were a major issue for Toronto throughout the 2025-26 season, ranking 24th of 30 teams. The problem became more apparent during the Raptors' first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where they were out-rebounded on the glass in five of the seven games.

Toronto's current centre, Poeltl, finished the 2025-26 season with his lowest rebound total in six years while appearing in a career-low 46 games.

Jakob Poeltl signed a three-year, $84 million contract extension with the Raptors before the 2025-26 season. (Jonathan Hui/Imagn Images)

The Raptors still have Poeltl under control for four more seasons, with the three-year, $84 million extension he signed before the 2025-26 campaign set to kick in following the 2026-27 season.

In hindsight, though, this failed trade would've hurt Toronto at the time.

Just weeks after the deadline, Sabonis underwent season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus, meaning the Raptors would've had to give up a fan-favourite player in Barrett, plus Poeltl (and potentially more) for a player that wouldn't have played down the stretch.