Aaaand we’re off, folks! The NBA trade deadline is underway. Nothing big has happened yet, but the Jazz and Raptors have given us a bit of action.
Toronto just traded a bunch of stuff for Kelly Olynyk, who is certainly a solid player in today’s NBA. He fell out of a starting position in Utah when the Jazz traded for John Collins over the summer, but he’s still very good.
It’s just kind of hard to pinpoint exactly what the Raptors are trying to do with the roster here.
We’re going to make our best effort here as we grade the trade. Let’s dive in.
RELATED: Check out our NBA trade tracker to see the other deals that have gone down today
The details
Let’s dive into the nitty gritty. Here’s ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski with the details of the trade:
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
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
The Raptors get: Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji
The Jazz get: Otto Porter Jr., Kira Lewis and a 2024 first-round pick.
Toronto Raptors
So I think it’s clear what the Raptors are trying to do here. Toronto wants to build a solid team around Scottie Barnes and try to compete moving forward.
I just don’t know if they’re going about it in the best way.
Olynyk is certainly a solid frontcourt partner to play with. He’ll be the backup center for the Raptors behind Jakob Poeltl and is a good floor spacer and crafty offensive option to have next to Scottie Barnes. He’ll enter free agency this offseason, though, so the Raptors will have to work to retain him. He’ll certainly have a market.
Ochai Agbaji is a solid get, too. He’s a former lottery pick who didn’t really pan out in Utah but could still find his footing in Toronto.
I just don’t know if this package was worth giving up a first-round pick for —even if it was going to fall toward the back of the draft considering the protections on it.
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
GRADE: C+
Utah Jazz
This feels like that classic Danny Ainge Celtics sorcery we’re used to.
Think about it. He just netted a first-round pick from a backup center’s expiring contract and a former lottery pick who could barely crack the rotation in Utah.
That’s a huge win for the Jazz. Otto Porter and Kira Lewis are just pluses here.
GRADE: A
