Canada's RJ Barrett celebrates his basket with Kelly Olynyk during a game in 2018. (Photo via The Canadian Press)
Kelly Olynyk, the Kamloops kid who grew up in Toronto, is heading north of the border to join the Raptors.
The Utah Jazz have traded the South Kamloops Secondary grad and Ochai Agbaji to the Toronto Raptors for Kira Lewis, Otto Porter and a 2024 first-round pick.
Olynyk is averaging 8.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 50 games with the Jazz this season, his second with the team and 11th in the NBA.
The 32-year-old is averaging 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 728 career NBA games. He’ll be joining his sixth NBA team, following stints in Boston, Miami, Houston, and Detroit as well.
Drafted 13th overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2013 NBA Draft, Olynyk played college basketball at Gonzaga University where his jersey hangs in the rafters.
Olynyk, who captained Canada to a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in the Philippines, joins a Raptors team that includes fellow Canadians RJ Barrett – who was acquired in late December – and Chris Boucher.
The trio could don the Maple Leaf in Paris when Canada plays at the 2024 Olympics.
NORTH SIIIIIIDE 🇨🇦
Welcome home, Kelly! pic.twitter.com/KMM7hotXB3
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) February 8, 2024
