Evaluating the Nets’ Ochai Agbaji trade with the Raptors

The The Brooklyn Nets have agreed to their first trade of the 2025-26 season on Wednesday by acquiring Ochai Agbadji and a 2032 second-round pick in a three-team deal that includes Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers. Brooklyn absorbed Agbadji’s $6.4 million expiring contract in exchange for a 2032 second-round pick and $3.5 million in cash.

Toronto received Chris Paul, who is expected to be waived, while Los Angeles received the rights to Vanja Marinkovic.

That’s how we approach the contract for the Nets and offer an evaluation.

Net trade value for deal to acquire Ochai Agbadji, 2032 second-round pick.

Brooklyn continues to use its NBA-leading cap space cash to acquire draft assets. Wednesday’s deal marks general manager Sean Marks’ fourth salary cap deal since the end of last season.

The Nets picked up Terrence Mann’s three-year, $47 million contract from the Hawks in exchange for the 22nd pick in the June draft, which they used to select Drake Powell. They then dealt Cam Johnson in exchange for Michael Porter Jr. and the Nuggets’ unprotected 2032 first-round pick. Brooklyn also picked up Haywood Highsmith’s $5.6 million expiring contract and received an unprotected second-round pick from the Miami Heat in 2032.

After being picked by the Raptors in the second round in 2032, the Nets own 21 top second-rounders and 12 first-rounders over the next seven years.

Meanwhile, Agbaji could be another reclamation project for Brooklyn’s player development staff. The former lottery pick is having the worst three-point shooting season of his career, converting 12 of 65 (18.5 percent) attempts in 42 appearances. He was in and out of Toronto’s rotation amid its struggles.

However, Agbaji averaged 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 50/40/71 shooting in 2024-25. At 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and above-average athleticism, the 25-year-old is an intriguing no-risk flyer. If he shows promise during the second half of this season, the Nets could bring him back on a cheap contract in 2026-27.

The Nets can move Agbadji into their $15.3 million cap space. They could also use their cap space in other salary-shedding moves and then absorb the Raptors’ guard into the $8.8 million mid-level room exception.

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