Having previously kick-started the NBA’s trade season early beginning in late December, the Raptors kept at it on deadline day.
First, the Raptors acquired Canadian big man Kelly Olynyk and prospect Ochai Agbaji — who was the 14th pick of the 2022 draft — in exchange for the worst of the three first-round picks acquired in the Pascal Siakam-to-Indiana deal (currently somewhere between the 26-28th pick of the 2024 draft which has been projected as one of the weakest in years), Otto Porter Jr. and Kira Lewis.
Then, they dealt point guard Dennis Schroder and veteran big man Thad Young for guard Spencer Dinwiddie, according to ESPN., getting Schroder’s guaranteed $13.025 million off the books in 2023-24 (Dinwiddie and Young are on expiring contracts).
Olynyk, who will turn 33 in April, has long been coveted by the Raptors, who would retain his Bird Rights when he hits unrestricted free agency this summer barring a follow-up deal on Thursday (Raptors management will speak to the media after the 3 p.m. ET deadline).
He was born in Toronto before moving to Kamloops, B.C., and both of his parents worked for the Raptors at some point — his father Ken as an assistant coach, his mother Arlene as a scorekeeper.
Olynyk captained Canada’s bronze medal-winning side at last summer’s FIBA World Cup and is close with Raptors swingman RJ Barrett.
Agbaji, who turns 24 in April, played at Kansas before becoming a lottery pick, like Raptors prospect Gradey Dick. He has flashed a lot of defensive prowess, has good shooting form and has connected from the corners at a high rate in the NBA, but not from elsewhere beyond the arc.
Agbaji has lots of work to do as a ball-handler and creator, but the shooting guard fits the mold of a potential “3-and-D” player. He led Kansas to the NCAA title and was named Final Four MVP as a senior.
Porter, a free-agent signing before last season, has been out of Darko Rajakovic’s plans for some time and was going to hit free agency again. Lewis was acquired in the Siakam deal and is now on the move again.
Toronto was still looking at other deals as the clock ticked on Thursday — including rerouting Dinwiddie elsewhere — but in the meantime had opened up some cap space, acquired a prospect they’ve liked for a while in Agbaji and Olynyk.
@WolstatSun