Grade the Trade: Raptors backtrack on latest trade, get younger in wild pitch

Grading the trade for Toronto

We laid out in the intro how poorly Kelly Olynyk is playing since joining the Raptors, and how much worse the Raptors play when he checks in. It's not even merely a symptom of the Raptors' injuries, as lineups with Scottie Barnes and Kelly Olynyk were outscored by 11.3 points per 100 possessions before Barnes fractured his hand.

The reason to keep Olynyk is that it's still a very small sample size on a largely non-serious team, one that is setting franchise records for ineptitude. That's mostly not on Olynyk. His track record of being a positive player is much larger, and there is a reason the Raptors brought him in. Having a proven veteran who has playoff experience is valuable, even on a retooling team.

More so, a stretch big opens up the court for young talent to develop in a positive environment. Look at Cade Cunningham's experience on the Detroit Pistons to see an on-ball star from Scottie Barnes' draft class whose development is being stunted because of a lack of spacing.

Moving on from Olynyk could make sense at the right price; does this deal strike that note? Olivier-Maxence Prosper was a toolsy forward prospect who rose up draft boards late in the process last year. The Raptors have historically loved that type of player. Maxi Kleber could rehabillitate his value in Toronto to be flipped at the Trade Deadline, or they could simply agree to a buyout. The three second-round picks add up to a fair amount of value but none are premium options by themselves.

The value is fine here, but a team with questionable center depth could need to address the position in a different way. If the Raptors add Donovan Clingan or Kyle Filipowski in the 2024 Draft, this kind of deal becomes even more viable. It's unlikely that the team moves on from Olynyk so quickly and essentially backtracks on February's deal, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be smart to.

This is a fine deal that likely doesn't move the needle but is the kind of trade the team should be considering for all of its veterans.

Grade: B-