Breaking down Thursday’s trades: What was the motivation for Masai Ujiri, and do I agree?
Will Brady – February 10 2024
The majority of Toronto’s work was done prior to the trade deadline, as they were first to market by moving OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam earlier this season. Nevertheless, Thursday was still an eventful day, as the Raps made a couple of notable moves to re-configure the team. Both moves Toronto made will be impactful in ‘23-24, but the real ramifications will come in the future, which makes sense given where they sit in the team building process.
Although my grades for both trades Toronto made on Thursday are less than favorable, I will admit that there’s potential for the Raptors to emerge as winners. If Ochai Agbaji develops into a better player than I expect, or if Toronto is able to take advantage of the financial flexibility they gained by moving Dennis Schröder, it’s definitely possible that I’ll be singing a different tune.
Raptors Secure Olynyk’s Bird Rights, Take Flier on Agbaji
TORONTO RECEIVES: F/C Kelly Olynyk, G/F Ochai Agbaji
UTAH RECEIVES: PG Kira Lewis Jr., F Otto Porter Jr., 2024 1st round pick (via the least favorable of OKC, LAC, UTA, HOU)
My Outlook:
For the second straight season, the Raptors have forfeited a 1st round pick for the privilege of locking themselves into the Bird Rights Trap with a center. The irony is notable, but the comparison isn’t apples to apples for a few reasons. First, Toronto still has at least one other 1st round pick in the 2024 draft even after trading this one, and this is a low upside pick as it will convey from either OKC or LAC. Second, Toronto also gets a buy-low on Ochai Agbaji, who will remain on his rookie deal through ‘24-25, still has development potential as a three & D wing, and fills a rotational need even if his upside is capped as a bench piece.
Olynyk is a really good offensive player, and his ability to both shoot threes and facilitate from the high post is going to significantly boost Toronto’s reserve unit. He should unlock some much-needed spacing for Scottie Barnes. However, he’s also in need of a new contract after this season, and he’ll have Toronto over a barrel in the same way Poeltl did last summer. There’s a limit to what the Raptors should be willing to play a center who will be entering his age 33 season and is already a defensive liability. I have a feeling the Raptors desire to bring back Olynyk while maintaining an avenue to cap space prompted the Dennis Schröder salary dump, which I don’t love (more on that move to come).
TRADE GRADE: C+
Nets, Raptors Swap Point Guards
TORONTO RECEIVES: G Spencer Dinwiddie
BROOKLYN RECEIVES: PG Dennis Schröder, F/C Thaddeus Young
My Outlook:
This appears to be a straight salary dump of Schröder, as Toronto will reportedly waive Dinwidde before he suits up for a single game. Clearing Schröder’s salary for ‘24-25 allows Toronto a path towards cap space this summer, even once they re-sign Kelly Olynyk. Regardless of the financial incentive, it still seems strange that they got nothing in return for Schröder, who is a good player being paid a commensurate rate. It’s possible that the offers for Schröder that included draft capital also included salary that extended beyond ‘23-24, and thus prompted Toronto to go with this move instead. Either way, they will now have to spend at least a portion of the cap space they kept open with this move to replace Schröder, as there is a clear hole on the roster at backup point guard.
MY GRADE: C-
West Coast Hoops 