The Toronto Raptors entered the season decimated by injuries, with more counting to pile up. The combination of Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett has yet to play a single minute together. While this isn’t ideal, it does mean more minutes for others like Ochai Agbaji, who’s taken full advantage. Through 14 games, Agabji has been playing his best basketball and has emerged as a starter-level player.
The Raptors Might Have an Ochai Agbaji Problem Soon
New Shot Mechanics
In his last two years in college, Agbaji shot the ball well, connecting on 40.7% of his threes in his final season. However, his shooting touch didn’t immediately transfer to the NBA. After being traded to Toronto, Agbaji and the coaching staff worked on his shot mechanics to improve his outside shooting. At first, this change seemed to have done more harm than good, with Agbaji shooting 21.7% from deep with Toronto last season. However, Agbaji continued to work to fix his shot over the summer, and now that work is on full display.
Through 14 games, Agbaji is shooting 44.3% on 4.4 threes per game. Agbaji has been blistering on corner threes, knocking down 63.2% of his threes from the left corner and 45% from the right. His shooting percentage will fall throughout the season, but keeping him off the court will be hard if he can stay at 37-40% from deep.
Needed Defense
Alongside his improved outside shot, Agbaji has been more active defensively off the ball. With his improved activity and 6’10 wingspan, Agbaji has been a menace in the passing lanes. He is averaging a career-high 1.3 steals and 2.1 deflections. With his wingspan and impressive bounce, Agbaji is a solid secondary/tertiary rim protector, giving the Raptors additional backline defense. With Barnes out, Agbaji has been asked to guard larger players like Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Still, with his physical tools and strength, Agbaji does a good job of making up the size difference. The Raptors have needed defensive help on the wings since trading OG Anunoby last season. While Agbaji isn’t the same caliber defender, he has done a good job this season being the Raptors’ go-to wing defender.
Not Everyone Can Start
With his shooting and defensive prowess, Agbaji is playing at a starting level considering Toronto’s injuries, the team can play him as such. However, what happens once everyone gets healthy and Barnes and Quickley must start? Both Barrett and Gradey Dick are playing at a high level, with Dick in the middle of a year two jump. However, playing Dick, Barrett, and Quickley, three weak/average perimeter defends is a challenge. The Raptors have been getting killed all year defensively, they notably rank 28th in the league for defensive rating.
With Agbaji in the starting line alongside Barnes, the Raptors would have two good, versatile defenders on the wings. He would also provide needed spacing with how he shoots the ball from deep. Having too many good players is a good problem. With the Raptors dealing with injuries, the team has more time to see if Agbaji is good enough to start and who should move to the bench.
