Raptors Strike 1st Deal of Trade Deadline in Surprising Move

The Toronto Raptors have acquired Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji from the Utah Jazz ahead of the trade deadline

Kelly Olynyk is coming home.

The Toronto Raptors have reportedly acquired the Canadian center and Ochai Agbaji from the Utah Jazz in return for Kira Lewis Jr., Otto Porter Jr., and a 2024 first-round pick, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. 

It's a shocking deal for the Raptors who have finally added the floor-spacing center the organization had been looking for. Olynyk is a career 37% three-point shooter who should fit perfectly alongside Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley.

Olynyk, 32, is on an expiring contract but the trade suggests Toronto is likely looking to re-sign the 6-foot-11 big man in the summer. There'd reportedly been interest in Olynyk from multiple other contending teams, but it seems unlikely the Raptors will re-route him ahead of the trade deadline. 

Agbaji, 23, is a sophomore who has yet to show much at the NBA level through his first two seasons. He's averaging just 6.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting 34.6% from three-point for his career. He was selected 14th overall in the 2022 draft after spending four seasons at Kansas where he averaged 18.8 points as a senior in 2021-22.

The price isn't too expensive for the Raptors as neither Lewis nor Porter were part of the rotation in Toronto. The first-round pick is somewhat surprising considering Toronto's record this season, but it'll be a very late first-round pick, either from the Los Angeles Clippers or Oklahoma City Thunder, whichever is less valuable, per Wojnarowski.

Toronto still has Indiana's first-round pick this year as well as an early second-round pick from Detroit. The Raptors had made it clear they didn't intend to bring in three rookies this summer.