According to the latest NBA intel from HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the Toronto Raptors have discussed a trade involving Ochai Agbaji with the Phoenix Suns. If this report is to be trusted, it's possible Agbaji has already played his last game in a Raptors uniform.
Scotto writes: Meanwhile, rival NBA executives have cited Toronto’s Ochai Agbaji as the likely trade candidate to help the Raptors duck below the tax. In fact, there’s been exploratory discussions between the Raptors and Suns regarding Agbaji and second-round draft pick compensation for Richards, league sources told HoopsHype.
If this is the direction Toronto ultimately goes, it certainly wouldn't be a reflection of Agbaji’s effort or professionalism. He's done exactly what the Raptors asked of him since arriving: defend hard, run the floor, and accept a low-usage role without complaint. But his performance has certainly suffered this season, and the reality of Toronto’s roster construction and financial situation is beginning to squeeze out players who don't have a clearly defined long-term role.
The Raptors are in a different place now than they were a year ago with Brandon Ingram now a focal point of the offense. With a plethora of other young role players taking up more of the bench minutes, Agbaji has increasingly found himself stuck in a rotational gray area. He's useful, but not essential. And for a front office trying to manage the tax line while maintaining flexibility, that's often the difference between being seen as expendable or not.
Ochai Agbaji's departure could ultimately benefit Toronto
There's also a stylistic element at play. Toronto has leaned further into playmaking, ball movement, and secondary creation from its wings. Agbaji’s value is primarily as a straight-line athlete and defender, not a connective offensive piece. Couple that with his shooting struggles, and it's no wonder why his minutes have dropped so much through the first two months of this season.
From Phoenix’s perspective, the interest makes sense. The Suns have been aggressive in cycling through role players who can defend and thrive without the ball. Agbaji fits that mold cleanly and would not require touches to be effective next to high-usage stars. For Toronto, that interest represents an opportunity to solve a financial problem while reshaping the rotation around its core.
None of this means Agbaji can't help a winning team. He's proven in the past that he can survive in playoff-level environments and guard across positions. But the Raptors are no longer in the business of maximizing short-term depth at the expense of long-term clarity.
If this trade materializes, it'll be primarily about Toronto making a calculated decision t upgrade their rotation in the midst of a prolonged cold stretch for their 25-year old wing. Sometimes, solid players simply have to be moved, and this would be the right circumstances to do so in.