The Toronto Raptors tied up some loose ends ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline, making deals with the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets.
Guard Ochai Agbaji and Canadian centre Kelly Olynyk were sent to Toronto from Utah for guard Kira Lewis Jr., forward Otto Porter Jr., and a 2024 first-round pick on Thursday morning. Guard Dennis Schröder and forward Thad Young were then traded from the Raptors to Brooklyn for guard Spencer Dinwiddie — who was immediately waived — early in the afternoon.
They were relatively minor deals compared to two Toronto made in the past six weeks: Defensive wing OG Anunoby and power forward Precious Achiuwa were sent to the New York Knicks for guard Immanuel Quickley and Canadian wing RJ Barrett on Dec. 30, and all-star forward Pascal Siakam was moved to the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 17 in a blockbuster trade involving Lewis, two other players and three first-round picks.
“We did our heavy lifting about a month ago, so I feel like this trade deadline we cleaned up a lot of things and we addressed some of the things we talked about after the OG and Pascal trades,” said general manager Bobby Webster at OVO Athletic Centre about 30 minutes after the deadline passed. “Financially, we were able to gain some more flexibility this summer with the Dennis trade.
“I think the heavy lifting was done this December-January and this deadline continued on that path.”
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The Raptors held three first-round picks, potentially four depending on how they finish in the final standings, in this summer’s draft heading into the deadline. The lowest of them will be sent to the Jazz as part of the deal for Olynyk and Agbaji.
“If it ends up that we’re in the top six or out of the top six, especially the way that the new NBA rules are, to try and game that doesn’t make a ton of sense,” said Webster about the rare decision of a rebuilding team like Toronto to trade a first-round pick.
“At the end of the day, it’s going to be the lottery balls, so I don’t think there’s a ton of ‘let’s do this or that.’ I think the big priority for us is playing that young group together.”
Olynyk, born in Toronto but raised in Kamloops, B.C., was the captain of Canada’s bronze-medal winning team at the FIBA World Cup this past fall. He and Barrett, who is from Mississauga, Ont., are part of the core of players who have committed to play for Canada at the Paris Olympics in July.
“We love them as players first and it’s great that they are Canadian, they want to be here,” said Webster. “I think that’d be the other piece, which is having players that want to play here goes a long way on many levels.”
The Canadian women’s basketball team will play in a last-chance tournament to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Canada must finish in the top three of four teams to advance.
Bruce Brown was one of the pieces sent to Toronto by the Pacers for Siakam. Many pundits considered him a valuable trade commodity because he’s a flexible role player on the floor and has a second-year team option on his contract.
Webster said that the Raptors weren’t offered any deals for Brown that met their threshold, however, but he could still be dealt ahead of the draft on June 26.
“I also think if you look around the league today, there weren’t a ton of major moves,” said Webster. “There may be some larger macro elements in the NBA contributing to teams going for it and making big deals.
“We’re happy with Bruce, we’re happy to continue on with him.”
Olynyk is averaging 8.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists this season. Agbaji, the 14th pick in the 2022 NBA draft, is averaging 5.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists.
“Hard working, high character, two-way player, kind of fits the bill of guys we’ve pursued over the years,” said Webster of Ochai Agbaji, whose name is pronounced OH’-chai AH’-bah-jee.
The 30-year-old Porter has been snake-bitten since signing with Toronto on a two-year deal in July 2022. He underwent season-ending surgery on his left foot after playing only eight games last season. He missed several weeks in January with a knee injury this season and hasn’t played since returning.
Lewis only played in one game with Toronto — earning a personal foul in 1:33 of playing time — after he was sent to the Raptors as part of the Siakam deal. He is averaging 2.8 points, 1.1 assists and 0.9 rebounds over 16 games this season.
Schröder signed a two-year $26 million US contract with Toronto on June 30 and was the Raptors starting point guard at the beginning of the season. Quickley’s arrival from New York moved Schröder to the bench.
Knicks pick up Burks, Bogdanovic
Also, the New York Knicks are acquiring forward Bojan Bogdanovic and guard Alec Burks from the Detroit Pistons.
Per reports, the Pistons will 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.
Burks, 32, is contributing 12.6 points, 2.6 boards and 1.6 assists in 43 games off the bench for Detroit. He played for the Knicks in 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
Grimes, 23, is averaging 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 45 games (18 starts) this season, his third with the Knicks.
Flynn, the 25-year-old former Raptor, is averaging 2.2 points in 14 games off the bench this season.
The Pistons, with just seven wins, 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 add Hield from Pacers
Meanwhile, the slumping Philadelphia 76ers have 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 was not yet official.
Sixers president Daryl Morey made the move hours ahead of the NBA trade deadline with the Sixers tumbling down the East standings without injured all-star Joel Embiid.
The 76ers are 4-12 without Embiid and will be without the reigning MVP for at least month — if not much longer — following knee surgery this week.
Hield will earn $19.2 million this season in the final year of a four-year contract. He averaged just 12 points this year in 52 games with the Pacers. He is a career 40 per cent three-point shooter. Hield made just 28 starts this year but should see an expanded role on a Sixers team hit hard by injuries and illness.
The Sixers have lost seven of eight games.
Mavs bolster frontcourt
The Dallas Mavericks made two moves to bolster their frontcourt just as star guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are healthy and playing together again in a push for the playoffs.
The Mavericks agreed on trades with Charlotte and Washington just hours before the deadline Thursday, a person with knowledge of the deals confirmed.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deals have not been announced.
Dallas gets power forward P.J. Washington from the Hornets for Grant Williams, Seth Curry and a 2027 first-round draft pick, the person said.
The Mavericks, who are getting two second-round picks in the Charlotte trade, are acquiring centre Daniel Gafford from the Wizards for centre Richaun Holmes and draft compensation, according to the person.
In a third move, the Mavericks announced a swap of 2028 first-round picks 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 just signed a $46.5 million, three-year contract with the Hornets this past offseason.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
