The Raptors were one of the most active teams before the trade deadline, sending out Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby. They continued reshaping their roster with two smaller deals on Thursday.
Here are grades for Toronto's moves, along with what it means for the team's future.
MORE: Updated Raptors depth chart after trade deadline deals
Grading the Raptors' trade deadline deals
The Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji trade
- Raptors receive: Kelly Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji
- Jazz receive: Kira Lewis Jr., Otto Porter Jr., 2024 first-round pick
Raptors grade: B
Olynyk is a very good playmaker and a killer 42.9 percent 3-point shooter this season. He gives the Raptors much more spacing, offering a different look from Jakob Poeltl. He's a nice veteran who had a lot of interest at the deadline.
Still, why did an 18-33 team trade for the 32-year-old big man? The move is perplexing, to say the least.
Olynyk will be a free agent this summer. If the Raptors really liked him, they could have signed him then. This also makes it more likely that Toronto will have to send its top-six protected 2024 first-round pick to the Spurs.
The cost here isn't too big. The pick that the Raptors are sending out will fall in the late 20s in a weak 2024 draft.
The front office must have been high on Agbaji to make this move. He's a good defender with great help instincts and solid shooting mechanics. He was taken with the 14th pick in the 2022 draft as an upperclassman with the idea that he could contribute immediately. He doesn't have a ton of upside, but he should be a solid role player on the wing.
MORE: Nets' Dennis Smith Jr. reacts to erroneous trade report sending him to Raptors
Swapping Dennis Schroder for Spencer Dinwiddie
- Raptors receive: Spencer Dinwiddie
- Nets receive: Dennis Schroder, Thaddeus Young
Raptors grade: B-
The Raptors' second trade of the day shed some more light on what their long-term plans were. In moving Schroder for Dinwiddie, they removed their $13.0 million commitment to Schroder next season.
At first glance, this move seemed bizarre. Schroder has played well and Dinwiddie has been waived by the team. The Raptors certainly got worse in the short term with this move.
The financial situation explains the reasoning behind dumping Schroder. In clearing that $13.0 million off the books, they have a chance now to make a big splash during free agency this summer.
With only seven players on fully guaranteed deals and none earning more than $26.0 million, the Raptors are going to be one of the biggest cap space teams. They now have the flexibility to completely reshape their roster to better fit Scottie Barnes.
MORE: Why the Raptors waived Spencer Dinwiddie immediately after trade
Overall Raptors trade deadline grade: B
While adding Olynyk was weird, getting a decent wing prospect in Agbaji and adding flexibility going forward were good wins for the Raptors.
Toronto also benefited from the moves it didn't make. It held onto Bruce Brown Jr. despite some demand for him, giving the team a nice veteran who has played well since joining them.
Brown also retains that flexibility that the Raptors are prioritizing. He's on a $23.0 million team option for next season. The Raptors can keep him for that number, decline it and let him walk, or try to bring him back at a lower figure.
These moves were made with an eye towards next summer. The Raptors are in a better position to build now than they were at the beginning of the day.
