NBA training camp is fast approaching, which means Exhibit 10 deals are being signed in flurries. Most players signing these non-guaranteed tryout contracts will end up being cut once preseason is over. However, a few will inevitably crack the final roster on a two-way, or even a standard, deal. Olivier Sarr, who is going camping with the Toronto Raptors, has a strong chance at being one of those survivors.
As you may have guessed from his last name, Sarr is the (elder) brother of 2024 second-overall pick Alex Sarr. The 7’0”, 237lb big man has three years of NBA experience under his belt, all with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He missed the 2024-25 season with a ruptured Achilles, but a fruitful comeback may be on his horizon.
Like his little bro, Sarr has a versatile two-way skillset and can impact the game in multiple ways on both sides. He’s a towering presence in the paint with some perimeter juice too. As a rim protector, Sarr is very disciplined and impactful, especially in drop coverage. He has impressive standing reach and he knows how to best position himself to alter shots. The Frenchman delivered 1.3 blocks per 75 possessions in 2021-22, the season in which he played the most NBA minutes, while grading out as a 91st percentile rim protector according to BBall Index. In the G League in 2023-24, he swatted 2.2 shots a night.
Offensively, Sarr is a versed roll man and dunker spot finisher with a knack for finding gaps in the defense off-ball. His standing reach is one again an asset here, as he can sky up for a catch above defenders and throw down lobs. The Kentucky product can also be used as a pop big— he’s a comfortable spot-up shooter who has hit 37.2% of his career triples.
Sarr would be a nice fit on the Raptors as a backup. Their spacing looks a little shaky on paper, especially with Jakob Poeltl in the lineup, so adding a stretch five like Sarr into the fold could be useful. The team did sign Sandro Mamukelashvili, a talented frontcourt scorer, but he’s nowhere near the defender Sarr is. On top of that, Sarr fits Toronto’s favored archetype of versatile frontcourt players with above-average positional size. He could play a role similar to Chris Boucher, the rangy veteran who left for Boston in free agency.
The Raptors currently have 13 of their 15 roster spots filled with guaranteed contracts, and Sarr will be battling with Jamison Battle, A.J. Lawson, and David Roddy for the last two open slots. While he isn’t head-and-shoulders better than any of those three, he would make more sense as a signing, as Toronto already has a lot of talent at the wing positions (Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, etc). Overall, Olivier Sarr is a name to keep an eye on heading into preseason as a potential hidden gem.
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