Spurs do this because the team needs a real scoring forward who can create his own shots, especially for playoff basketball. Pairing a skilled wing like Ingram next to Wemby gives them more offensive options and helps them compete against stronger West teams, not just in regular season games but in late-game moments where half-court scoring matters most. Even though they just won two straight against OKC, the West is still stacked with teams that have more scoring depth and experience, so this trade is more about raising their ceiling now while still keeping future flexibility since the contracts they take back are short and manageable.

As for the Raptors, they’d make this move because they’re clearly building for the future, and adding a young, defensive-minded forward like Sochan fits their timeline better than keeping older or mid-tier veterans. They also gain a 2030 pick swap which gives them extra draft flexibility, showing they value long-term growth over short-term wins. Since, they aren’t in a position to contend right now, so prioritizing younger players and future draft assets is the smartest path. They already have talent to develop, and moves like this let them stay patient while slowly shaping a stronger core instead of forcing a win-now timeline they aren’t ready for yet.