3 Signs Toronto Raptors might be tanking this season

No. 1: Ochai Agbaji moves into the rotation

The Toronto Raptors took a flier on Ochai Agbaji at the trade deadline this past season, tacking him onto a trade for Kelly Olynyk. The former Kansas star was the 14th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, then promptly included in the Donovan Mitchell trade and sent to the Utah Jazz.

His time in Utah was a series of ups and downs, and mostly downs, as his 3-point shot deserted him and he couldn't find a rhythm on offense. The trade to Toronto was an opportunity for a new setting to allow him to find his place and prove he was worthy of a lottery pick.

Unfortunately for Agbaji, the opposite has happened. Despite getting an unexpectedly large amount of playing time as the rest of the roster succumbed to injuries, Agbaji was even worse in Toronto than he was in Utah. The second-year wing saw 638 minutes down the stretch of the season for the Raptors and averaged just 6.7 points per game on frigid 39.1 percent shooting from the field and 21.7 percent from deep. He was the worst player on the main roster, and that was saying something as Jalen McDaniels was still on the team.

Agbaji is still on the roster, but he is behind a host of other options on the wing, from Bruce Brown and Gradey Dick in competition for the final starting spot to lottery pick Ja'Kobe Walter and additions Davion Mitchell and Jamal Shead possibilities for two-point-guard lineups with Immanuel Quickley. The only configurations that include Agbaji seem like those aimed at losing games.

It's possible he finds a way to catch a groove and start hitting shots, but he hasn't done anything to indicate such a move is coming; he couldn't hit the ocean from a boat at Summer League either. Giving him a spot in the rotation is a sign that winning games is not only not a priority, it may be counter to their goal of going after a top lottery pick.

There are many signs that could tell you the Raptors are tanking, and playing Ochai Agbaji next season is the clearest of all.