No untouchable Raptors, Masai? I don’t agree – we have one

It’s been a year since the Raptors lucked into OG Anunoby in the 2017 Draft. While we’re anxious to get a draft pick tonight, I don’t want OG to be part of any deal.

The President of the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, has been a busy man since the team’s playoff run ended so abruptly and sadly. Quite apart from the recently concluded search for a new head coach, Masai has been in contact with his peers across the NBA. From what little we can glean about his conversations, Masai has intimated there are no untouchable players on the Raptors roster.

While we can appreciate Masai’s wish to assure other GMs of his desire to listen to any deal, I’d be most reluctant to add one name to any deal. OG Anunoby shouldn’t go anywhere. If his name has come up, and we can be certain it has, I hope Masai shut down the discussion in a hurry.

We haven’t seen what OG is truly capable of yet. We were treated to glimpses in his rookie season, including these:

Injured knee – not me!

OG produced far more than we had any right to expect. He was damaged goods, and sitting out his entire first season, a la Joel Embiid, was entirely conceivable. Perhaps he might have joined the 905 hopefuls at some stage of their season. Nope – he made the big team out of training camp, and stepped into a starter’s role on November 14. He never gave it up.

For my money, OG rivals Pascal Siakam as the Raptors with the highest ceiling. They are the two whose combined improvement could push Serge Ibaka out of Toronto. It’s easy to imagine those young men providing sufficient coverage at power forward to render Serge and his $21+ million stipend redundant. Combined they will make less than 20% of Ibaka’s salary. For an over the cap team like the Raptors, that’s hugely important.

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OG passed every test he was given. He made 3-balls at a 37.1% rate during the season, and 44.1% in the playoffs. His on-the-ball defense was sound, and without the unwanted baggage of a high foul rate. For a rookie starter to average 1.8 fouls per game is remarkable.

[stats courtesy of www.basketball-reference.com]

We can never forget – character matters. If OG had difficulties working with his mates or coaches, we certainly didn’t hear about it.

Anunoby is not anyone I want to see thrown in to a deal as a sweetner. Yes, I’m well aware the NBA Draft is tonight, and if Masai can manufacture a deal which includes a pick, fine. Just don’t give up OG. The young man is only scratching the surface of what he can do.