NBA Offseason Basketball News Latest Transfer Market

As the NBA offseason continues for all teams outside of Golden State and Boston. One of the more interesting names to come up with in early league trade chat is Toronto Raptors swingman OG Anunoby.

After a standout season of Scottie Barnes’ Rookie of the Year. Word circulated among rival front offices that Anunoby was sometimes dissatisfied with his role in Toronto. Where Barnes joins Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet as main ball handlers in Nick Nurse’s foul. Two sources familiar with the dynamics told B/R that Anunoby had not directly expressed his dissatisfaction with his situation with the Raptors.

Perhaps the conversation around him was driven more by external interest in acquiring the services of the fifth-year attacker. The Raptors initially went after Jarrett Allen last summer. Then in February. Toronto teases Indiana about Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis and contacts San Antonio about Jakob Poeltl. Landing a center of that caliber would almost certainly require the Raptors to sacrifice one of those being supposedly untouchables. If Anunoby is available outside of this season, expect a long list of interested applicants. Anunoby, 24, is a proven blue-chip prospect who already has deep post-season experience. He is also playing under a contract worth noting, even half of the $72 million four-year extension he signed in 2020 (with player options in 2024-25).

The Future of OG Anunoby

The two landing sites that league personnel has linked are Utah and Portland. The Jazz is weighing a possible trade with three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. Which NBA sources have pegged as one of Toronto’s targets to satisfy its appetite for early rim protectors. While there is much debate both around the league and among Utah staff about whether to move Gobert. Key to the Jazz’s defense, however, was the most effective way to escalate Utah’s problems in guarding the perimeter. Anunoby would definitely be a wonderful addition to any team lacking wings. To match Gobert’s high salary, which will range from $38.2 million to $46.7 million between 2022-23 and 2025-26. Toronto needs to add another significant contract to Anunoby’s median annual salary of $18 million. Including Trent, another two-way perimeter force will make the math work. But that fee may be too high for Toronto’s top brass.

The Trail Blazers remain widely expected to pursue a trading scenario with the No. pick. 7 to add a complementary veteran alongside All-NBA guard Damian Lillard. And Anunoby is believed to be one of their main targets, along with Straw Grant. Both contracts will enter into Portland’s $20.9 million trade exemption from the deal that sent CJ McCollum to New Orleans. It’s possible Portland is looking to create a boundary space to get maximum-paying free agents. Like Zach LaVine, but all indications point to the Blazers guaranteeing Josh Hart $12.9 million for next season. Which would likely negate the signing of a major free agent. The deadline to bail Hart is June 25, two days after the NBA draft and nearly a week before free agency begins July 1.

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