The Toronto Raptors have agreed to acquire veteran center Kelly Olynyk and guard Ochai Agbaji from the Utah Jazz in exchange for a 2024 first round pick, forward Otto Porter Jr. and guard Kira Lewis, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.
The struggling Raptors are 12th in the Eastern Conference standings and have shipped out a number of franchise center pieces this season, most notably OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam.
They acquired a number of young players who are under contract beyond this season as well as three first round picks in the trades. These moves appeared to indicate they were selling off assets to build for the future. So why the heck are they moving a first rounder for a 32-year-old center closer to the end of his career than the beginning?
The Utah Jazz are finalizing a trade to send C Kelly Olynyk and guard Ochai Agbaji to the Toronto Raptors for Kira Lewis, Otto Porter and a 2024 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/H14MTbDi3U
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2024
Don’t get me wrong, I love O-Clinic. He’s been a staple on the hardcourt since his early Boston Celtics days, and the way he’s developed a three-point shot as a big man is admirable. But giving up a first-rounder to add him to a team that’s going nowhere makes zero sense.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – FEBRUARY 04: Kelly Olynyk #41 of the Utah Jazz shoots over Pat Connaughton #24 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Delta Center on February 04, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
For Utah, though, I love this trade. The fledgling contender sits in the 10th spot in the Western Conference standings and now they’ve acquired draft capital for an aging big name guy who was on the last year of his contract anyway. (RELATED: Kyrie Irving Blames New York City Mayor Eric Adams For Brooklyn Exit)
Woj reports that the pick will be the least valuable of a number of picks the Raptors hold, but it’s still a first-rounder which is worth more than bench big man, in my humble opinion.
The first-round pick will be the least favorable of OKC/Clippers/Rockets/Jazz in 2024, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2024
Olynyk is the second high-profile native Canadian the Raptors have acquired this season, joining former New York Knicks swingman RJ Barrett, who has been affectionately dubbed the “Maple Mamba” in homage to the late great Kobe Bryant.