The Raptors temple to the trade deadline and a new team

The Toronto Raptors took it down to the wire in their first home game in two weeks before beating the Houston Rockets 107-104 on Friday night.

Fred VanVleet was a familiar face on the visitor's bench in his first appearance as a member of the Rockets at Scotiabank Arena since signing an offseason deal after seven years with the Raptors.

Chris Boucher is the only one left from VanVleet's 2019 NBA title-winning Raptors team. Toronto was active ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Thursday, pulling the trigger on two separate transactions until 15.00.

Toronto sent Otto Porter Jr. and a 2024 first-round draft pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Kelly Olympique and Ochai Agbaji. Hours later, they traded Thad Young, Kyra Lewis Jr. and Dennis Schroder to the Brooklyn Nets for Spencer Dinwiddie to be released later.

CityNews sports reporter Lindsey Dunn spoke with Raptors veteran Garrett Temple about the moves the team has made and where he sees the future of the franchise.

Lindsay Dunn (LD): Garrett, I know you've been traded in previous years, so you're familiar with the emotions of the trade deadline. What did you do before the deadline on Thursday?

Garrett Temple {GT}: I was getting my car serviced and we had a group chat with Bruce (Brown) and Dennis (Schroeder). After trading for Kelly and Ohai, I asked them what they heard from their agents and stuff, and then Dennis was traded an hour later.

LD: There were a lot of rumors surrounding the Raptors before the trade deadline, did you think the Raptors would make those two moves?

GT: Yes, I didn't know about that. You know, again, it's like those two guys (Dennis and Kira) had an idea, Thad didn't know. Otto obviously had a point. After all, you never say never when you're like Tad or myself. So at the end of the day, you plan for the worst and hope for the best

LD: Now that the Raptors have brought in Olympique and Agbaji, how do you fit into that team?

GT: Kelly is a constant influence. You know, he's always been a consistent player, knows his game and is very effective at what he does. In the second part, he brings a calming effect that Thad was able to bring and Dennis was able to remove the chair. So I think it's going to be good for us and another guy in the league with double digits. I think he is 11 years old. On the other hand, he is an athlete who can go downhill, a young man who can really play. He seems to listen and he's coachable, but another athlete for us who can really score and get down and defend in transition. So I think it will be good.

LD: One of your new teammates, Bruce Brown, has been surrounded by trade rumors, but right now in the locker room, we're surrounded by the country music he's blasting. It's been a while since I've heard any music played here and I don't think I've ever heard country play.

GT: (laughs) I play golf with him. I really don't like it because he beat me during this game (played by Luke Combs during the interview). Therefore, next time we will not play with the country. But I don't listen to much country, but country music gets a bad rap. If you listen to it, it has some really good lyrics.

LD: Should I ask you about Sunday's biggest game in sports, the Superbowl, who do you hope will win in Kansas City or San Francisco?

GT: I mean, it's hard to go against Pat Mahomes, but Brock Purdy is as much a follower of Christ as I am. So I'll be rooting for the Niners. It's hard to bet against Mahomes, but he'll be in the record books, if not the greatest quarterback in history. But I want Brock Purdy and the 49ers to get the W.