Toronto Raptors cashing in with Canadians ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics
When the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team hits the court at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, they will do so with more chemistry after the NBA Trade Deadline.
With five hours to go before the deadline, the Toronto Raptors acquired Canadian international and Kamloops, British Columbia native Kelly Olynyk, adding the seven-foot-center to a roster already featuring Team Canada swingman RJ Barrett.
In the deal, the Raptors also brought in guard Ochai Agbaji in exchange for Kira Lewis, Otto Porter Jr., and a 2024 first-round pick, as first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
It’s a favorable deal for the Raptors, adding Olynyk’s skill sets in cutting, passing and shooting that will likely fit into head coach Darko Rajakovic’s style through the rest of the season. Meanwhile, his $12.1 million salary this year isn’t a tough pill to swallow either, considering the NBA experience he adds to the rotation.
Although the move improves the Raptors in the short term, it seldom matters to a seemingly lost season, which, despite some bright spots, has never looked positive for Toronto.
Still, adding further Canadian content and looking toward a more decisive year in 2024-25 is a positive move for the basketball club, especially considering the likely lackluster class of players available for selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Even with the looming free agency talks with the 33-year-old, it's a positive move in the professional game, yet it might even be better for Canada’s hopes in France this summer.
For Team Canada head coach Jordi Fernandez, the move is undoubtedly good news, ahead of a critical time for the national team, where an Olympic medal isn’t just a hope but an expectation for an NBA-heavy Canadian squad that has buy-in from top players like never before.
FIBA
Now, with Olynyk regularly playing with Barrett through the remainder of the NBA season, he will have an opportunity to improve on his average of 8.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 50 games this season while also forging a connection with Barrett ahead of the Olympics.
At the same time, entering the Raptors fold allows Olynyk, who has had stops with the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz, to be a veteran leader in the Raptors’ locker room, a role he will likely have to play on a youthful Canadian squad this summer -- especially if he will, at points, spend significant time on the bench.
In Canada’s bronze medal effort at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Olynyk captained the group despite not playing all the time and started to develop a relationship with Barrett, one that fans can expect to flourish when they take the floor together with the Raptors.
Through the tournament, he averaged 22.9 minutes per game, scoring an average of 10.9 points per game and picking up 4.6 rebounds, with Purdue University standout Zach Edey also taking minutes at center.
Heading into the Paris Games, Canada’s roster may look a little different, given the status of other interested Canadians in the NBA and a balance of European-heavy players with more significant FIBA experience.
Still, Olynyk will likely play a critical role with the group, given his international and NBA resume, and the partnership with Barrett could be a vital step in Canada’s medal hopes.
Raptors going Canadian has off-the-court benefits
With the 2023-24 season looking lost on the court and Raptors President Masai Ujiri shifting significant pieces around in the final hours ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline, the Raptors will benefit off the court with Olynyk on the team.
Despite growing up on the West Coast, Olynyk was born in Toronto, and his parents both worked for the Raptors at some point in their careers. Given his connections to the city and his past commitment as an NBA regular to Canada basketball, it won’t take much effort to endear himself to the home fans.
Through the remaining games, it’s not about putting together a winning record; for many a Raptor fan, it’s not an easy time to cheer on the team. Yet, it’s not all dark days in Canadian basketball, and Olynyk will bring a shining light to Toronto in the lead-up to the Olympics.
From a marketing standpoint, it’s easy to sell Team Canada -- especially given the amount of NBA talent expected to feature on a medal-contending roster this summer, and the Raptors are cashing in on that off-court magic with Barrett, Olynyk and, to an extent, Chris Boucher in 2024.
Should the trade become official, Olynyk could make his Raptors debut as soon as Friday night when Toronto hosts his former team, the Houston Rockets.
