The Toronto Raptors are at an interesting crossroads with their roster, and one name quietly floating under the radar is Ochai Agbaji. Once a first-round pick with promising upside, Agbaji hasn’t quite found his stride in the NBA. After starting his career in Cleveland, he’s now in Toronto, where his role has steadily diminished - and with the trade deadline approaching, that could mean a change of scenery is on the horizon.
Let’s be clear: Agbaji isn’t a centerpiece-level player right now. But he’s also not without value.
He’s the kind of guy who can give you solid minutes off the bench, defend multiple positions, and make the occasional impact play. That kind of versatility holds some appeal - especially for teams looking to shore up their depth without taking on long-term salary.
But for the Raptors, this is less about what Agbaji brings on the floor and more about what moving him could mean for the books.
Here’s the situation: Toronto is currently $967,000 over the luxury tax threshold. Agbaji is on an expiring $4.1 million contract and will hit free agency this summer after not reaching an extension in October.
From a financial standpoint, moving him would be a clean way to dip back under the tax line - and that’s not just a one-time benefit. Avoiding the tax this season could have ripple effects in future years, especially when it comes to repeater tax penalties down the line.
From a basketball perspective, Agbaji’s role has shrunk significantly this year. After averaging 27.2 minutes per game and starting 45 contests last season, he’s now down to just 15.5 minutes per night and scoring a career-low 4.3 points per game. There was a brief 10-game stretch in December where his minutes ticked back up to around 20 per game, but that’s been the exception, not the rule.
That drop-off in usage is telling. It suggests the Raptors’ coaching staff doesn’t see him as a major part of their current or future rotation. And if that’s the case, then it makes even more sense to explore trade options - especially if it helps the front office clean up the cap sheet heading into a pivotal offseason.
In the big picture, this isn’t a blockbuster move. But it’s the kind of subtle, strategic decision that can help a franchise maintain flexibility and avoid unnecessary financial penalties. If a team out there is willing to take a flyer on Agbaji - maybe hoping a change of scenery unlocks some of the potential he showed coming out of college - then Toronto would be wise to listen.
Bottom line: Agbaji may not be a game-changer, but his contract could be. And for a Raptors team navigating the margins of the salary cap, that might be reason enough to make a move before the February deadline.