NBA Rumors: Kelly Olynyk, Otto Porter Jr. Headline Expected Raptors, Jazz Trade

The Toronto Raptors are reportedly adding some veteran help to their frontcourt.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Raptors and Utah Jazz "are finalizing a trade" ahead of Thursday's 3 p.m. ET deadline. The trade will send big man Kelly Olynyk and guard Ochai Agbaji to the Raptors, with Kira Lewis Jr., Otto Porter Jr. and a 2024 first-round pick going to Utah.

From the Jazz's perspective, landing a first-round pick in this deal is quite the addition.

While they will miss Olynyk's presence in the frontcourt, he is also playing on the final season of his contract and could have left in free agency during the upcoming summer. This gives them an asset they can use to build toward their future.

As for Toronto, losing a first-round pick isn't as difficult as it might be for other teams.

After all, Michael Grange of Sportsnet noted Tuesday ahead of this deal that the Raptors were in line for four of the top 31 selections in the 2024 NBA draft. He also noted this is "deemed to be a fairly ordinary draft class, at best."

Toronto seems to be sellers this season after already trading Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, but Olynyk may be someone who can help it make up some ground in the race for the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.

It is four games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final spot and is coming off a victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. There are still some solid players on the roster with Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett leading the way, and Olynyk gives the Raptors a playoff-tested veteran who can stretch the floor and create matchup problems.

He is averaging 8.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 56.2 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from deep this season.

Those types of shooting numbers should play well alongside Barnes and could create more driving opportunities for the rest of the players on the floor with opposing big men forced to extend their defense to the perimeter.