Ochai Agbaji did not suit up for the Raptors as they faced the Celtics on January 9, despite Toronto's depleted roster due to injuries.
Darko Rajakovic was asked about it during his post-game presser. When a reporter inquired whether there was a particular reason for his decision not to use Agbaji, Toronto's head coach simply replied, “No. I just made the decision to go with other guys.” The exchange didn't end there, as the reporter followed up with, “How come?” Rajakovic responded, “That's how I decided to give opportunity [sic] to other guys. Coach's decision.”
Now, there's no more point-blank answer than that from Coach Darko, who has a knack for replying in this blunt tone. Just look back at when he was asked why Immanuel Quickley wasn't on the floor to close out Toronto's game against Orlando at the end of December — Jamal Shead was simply playing better, so he got the nod over IQ. I mentioned at the time not to read too deeply into such developments beyond a rough night. However, I’m not sure if the same rules apply to Ochai Agbaji.
The tide is turning fast against Ochai Agbaji on this Raptors squad
In all honesty, Agbaji has been fortunate to receive as much playing time and opportunity as he has this season. He's even started 11 games this year, which is quite generous to say the least. But the reality is that, for one reason or another, his ability to be effective for Toronto seems to have run its course. He's currently averaging 4.2 points on 41.8% shooting from the field, and a significant drop to just 17.1% from beyond the arc.
Considering how vital he was last season — providing the Raptors with a reliable 40% three-point shot and solid defense — it was quite unexpected to see Agbaji falter like this. While his defense still applies to some extent, I wouldn’t say it’s enough to justify a consistent rotation spot — especially after what we just saw from a hungry talent like Alijah Martin. More than ever, it might be in the Raptors' best interest to give the rookie more opportunities. If not him, then Jamison Battle or AJ Lawson could also deserve more meaningful minutes than Agbaji.
This is exactly what I had been suggesting some time ago for Darko Rajakovic to experiment with, and now it seems like it might actually be coming to fruition. Additionally, there's the possibility of the Raptors leveraging Agbaji's expiring contract — his small-scale $6.3 million salary, along with some second-round draft capital — to upgrade their roster via trade. I’ve covered how it's been linked to acquiring players like Day'Ron Sharpe, Nick Richards, Saddiq Bey, among others.
Whether the Raptors are completely pulling the plug on Agbaji and preparing him for an inevitable trade, or if, as Coach Darko suggested, he's simply going to a different roster pivot — the key takeaway is that Ochai Agbaji has seemingly fallen out of favor with the Raptors. This likely marks the end of his chapter with the team, whether he spends the rest of his expiring deal on the sidelines or Toronto manages to flip him for a better roster upgrade.