The Raptors acquire Canada's Olynyk in a trade with the Jazz at the NBA deadline

The Toronto Raptors tied up some cap space ahead of the NBA trade deadline by making deals with the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets.

Guard Ochai Agbaji and Canadian center Kelly Olynyk were sent from Utah to Toronto for guard Kyra Lewis Jr., junior forward Otto Porter and a 2024 first-round pick on Thursday morning. Then, guard Dennis Schroeder and forward Thad Young were traded from the Raptors to Brooklyn that afternoon for guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who was immediately released.

They were relatively minor deals compared to the two Toronto deals made in the last six weeks: defensive wing OG Anunoby and power forward Precious Achiuwa were traded to the New York Knicks on Dec. 30 for guard Emmanuel Quickley and Canadian wing RJ Barrett and All-Stars. forward Pascal Siakam was traded to the Indiana Pacers on January 17 in a blockbuster trade involving Lewis, two other players and three first-round picks.

“We did the heavy lifting about a month ago, so I think this trade deadline we cleaned up a lot of things and addressed some of the things we talked about after the OG and Pascal trades,” OVO general manager Bobby Webster said. Athletic Center approximately 30 minutes past the deadline. “Financially, we got some flexibility this summer with the Dennis trade.

“I think the heavy lifting was done this December-January and this period has continued on that track.”

The Raptors held three first-round picks, and a possible four depending on how they finished in the final standings, before this summer's draft deadline. The lowest of those will be sent to the Jazz as part of a deal for Olympique and Agbaji.

“If we go top six or top six, especially with the new NBA rules, we have to try to play a meaningless game,” Webster said of the rare game. A decision by a rebuilding team like Toronto to trade a first round pick.

“At the end of the day, it's going to be lottery balls, so I don't think there's going to be a ton of 'let's do this or that.' I think a big priority for us is to play this young group together.”

Born in Toronto but raised in Kamloops, B.C., Olympique captained Team Canada to a bronze medal at the FIBA ​​World Championships last fall. He and Ont. Barrett, who hails from Mississauga, is part of a core group of players who have committed to play for Canada at the Olympics in Paris in July.

“We love them as players first and foremost and it's great that they're Canadian, they want to be here,” Webster said. “I think it would be another piece that would go a long way on many levels for players who want to play here.”

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Bruce Brown was one of the pieces the Pacers sent to Toronto for Siakam. Many analysts considered him a valuable trade commodity because he is a versatile role player on the floor and has a second-year team option on his contract.

Webster told the Raptors that Brown has not been offered any deals that meet his cap, but he could still be dealt before the June 26 draft.

“I think if you look around the league today, there haven't been any major moves,” Webster said. “There are probably some big macro elements in the NBA that drive teams to get there and make big deals.

“We're happy with Bruce, and we're excited to continue with him.”

Olynyk averaged 8.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists this season. Agbaji, the 14th pick in the 2022 NBA draft, averaged 5.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists.

Porter, 30, has been bitten by the snake since signing a two-year deal with Toronto in July 2022. After playing just eight games last season, he underwent season-ending surgery on his left foot. He missed several weeks this season with a knee injury in January and hasn't played since returning.

Lewis played in just one game with Toronto — picking up a personal foul with 1:33 remaining — after being sent to the Raptors as part of the Siakam deal. He averaged 2.8 points, 1.1 assists and 0.9 rebounds in 16 games this season.

Schroder signed a two-year, $26 million contract with Toronto on June 30 and was the Raptors' starting point guard at the start of the season. Quickley's arrival from New York replaced Schroeder on the bench.

Knicks get Burks, Bogdanovich

The New York Knicks will also acquire forward Bojan Bogdanovic and Detroit Pistons guard Alec Burks.

The Pistons will reportedly receive guards Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn and Ryan Arcidiacono, as well as two future second-round draft picks.

Bogdanovic, 34, is averaging 20.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 28 games (27 starts) this season. He is making 41.5 percent of his shots from 3-point range.

Grimes, 23, has averaged 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 45 games (18 starts) this season, his third with the Knicks.

Former Raptor Flynn, 25, averaged 2.2 points in 14 games off the bench this season.

With just seven wins, the Pistons have the worst record in the NBA. The Knicks are 33-18 and tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the third-best record in the Eastern Conference.

76ers sign Hield from Pacers

Also, the slumping Philadelphia 76ers acquired guard Buddy Hield from the Indiana Pacers for Marcus Morris Jr., Furkan Korkmaz and three second-round draft picks, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the trade is not yet official.

Sixers president Daryl Morey made the move just hours before the NBA trade deadline, with the Sixers without All-Star Joel Embiid at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

The 76ers are 4-12 without Embiid and will be without their reigning MVP for at least a month, if not more, after knee surgery this week.

Hield will make $19.2 million this season in the final year of a four-year contract. He scored 12 points in 52 games with the Pacers this year. He is a career 40 percent three-point shooter. Hield has made 28 starts this year but should see an expanded role on a Sixers team that has been plagued by injuries and illness.

The Sixers have lost seven of eight games.

Mavs strengthen frontcourt

The Dallas Mavericks made two moves to bolster their frontcourt with star guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving healthy and playing together again for a playoff push.

The Mavericks agreed to trades with Charlotte and Washington hours before Thursday's deadline, a person with knowledge of the transactions confirmed.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because the deals were not disclosed.

Dallas will receive power forward PJ Washington from the Hornets for Grant Williams, Seth Curry and a 2027 first-round pick.

The Mavericks, who received two second-round picks in the Charlotte trade, are acquiring center Daniel Gafford and draft compensation from the Wizards for center Rishawn Holmes, according to the person.

In a third move, the Mavericks announced they would trade a 2028 first-round pick with Oklahoma City. The swap gives Dallas a first-round pick from the Thunder in this year's draft.

Washington was the 12th overall pick out of Kentucky in 2019 and signed a three-year, $46.5 million contract with the Hornets last offseason.