Canadian centers Kelly Olynyk and Chris Boucher hope to stay with the Raptors as the trade deadline approaches, and possibly beyond, as per sources close to the players, as reported by Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca.
While both Olynyk and Boucher are potential candidates for trade, the extent of value Toronto could retrieve from either player remains unclear.
Olynyk, who is in the final year of his contract, is currently averaging a career-low of 15.3 minutes per game after missing the beginning of the season due to a back issue. In contrast, Boucher has a cap hit of $10.8 million, displaying inconsistent form—he scored an average of 16.3 points over a four-game stretch earlier this month but has managed only 13 points across his last three contests.
Recent reports indicate that Boucher is open to negotiating a contract extension with Toronto, should he remain with the franchise beyond the February 6 trade deadline. The Raptors are reportedly receptive to these discussions.
Further insights from Lewenberg regarding the Raptors include:
- Apart from Scottie Barnes, it is believed that all players on Toronto’s roster could be available for trade if the offer is suitable. However, the organization seems disinclined to break up its young core and has been “extremely reluctant” to entertain trade offers for veteran center Jakob Poeltl, multiple league sources informed TSN.ca. Poeltl is under contract for at least one more season, holding a player option for 2026/27, and the Raptors believe he could be pivotal in their playoff contention next season, Lewenberg notes.
- The Raptors may face difficulties in extracting considerable value from a direct trade involving Bruce Brown and his $23 million contract, which is why the franchise is looking into larger, multi-team transactions, Lewenberg confirms. While combining the salaries of two or three players to acquire Brown may not be feasible for some teams, his significant expiring contract could gain traction in a deal tied to Miami’s pursuit of Jimmy Butler (who has a $48.8 million cap hit).
- There are suggestions that the Raptors might contemplate a buyout for Brown if he is still with the team after the deadline; however, it is uncertain whether he would actively seek this route, Lewenberg writes, as it would mean losing his Early Bird rights. Brown has reportedly shown satisfaction in Toronto, and his actions have mirrored this sentiment, according to Lewenberg.
Image Source: Kelly Olynyk @ Instagram
