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Toronto Raptors: What to expect from OG Anunoby next season

By Mark Birdsell

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 12: OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors dunks the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 12, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 12: OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors dunks the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 12, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors – OG Anunoby (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

OG Anunoby is expected to be a key member of the Toronto Raptors’ rotation this season. The team’s overall success will very much depend on the development of their young players.

Kawhi Leonard has gotten most of the headlines this summer and rightfully so. It’s not every day that a team acquires a top-five player. Leonard is arguably the most talented player to ever put on a Raptors’ uniform. But what hasn’t been discussed much this summer is the anticipated improvement of the team’s young forwards.

A number of video clips have surfaced of Pascal Siakam. He has been training in California during the offseason.  Siakam played in the Drew League. He has also been spotted playing against other NBA players at UCLA. One player that has gone under the radar is OG Anunoby.

The fact that we haven’t heard much about Anunoby is not that surprising. He is reserved and generally lets his game do the talking. The Raptors turned his quiet demeanor into a gimmick last season. On game day, the team would release a new Super In-Depth Statistical Game Day Analysis with OG. However, the video would simply be of Anunoby announcing the team’s next opponent.

NBA players flock to social media. Fans know that LeBron James is getting ready for the season, because he is always posting a new video. Anunoby is also a hard worker, who has spent the summer working on his game. But he isn’t the type of person to post his workout videos on Instagram. Raptors’ fans will have to live with a video of Anunoby throwing out the first pitch at a Blue Jays game.

This will be an important year for Anunoby’s development. By all accounts Leonard is completely healthy, and the Raptors have legitimate championship aspirations. Leonard and Danny Green are the only players on the roster with Finals experience. Anunoby will be asked to step up and play a significant role next season.

The Raptors entered last season with Norman Powell penciled in at small forward. Powell injured his hip in November and lost his starting spot. Anunoby was inserted into the starting lineup and never looked back. He started 62 games for the Raptors last season.

There are some questions about who is going to be in the starting lineup when the season tips off on October 17th. Kyle Lowry, Jonas Valanciunas and Leonard appear to be locks. I anticipate that Green and Anunoby will join them. That would require shifting Anunoby from the three spot to the four.

There has been some suggestion that Leonard could start at shooting guard, but that seems unlikely. Over his career, Leonard has spent 88 percent of his minutes at small forward. The Raptors will do everything in their power to make Leonard happy this season. As such, shifting him to a different position is probably not the best way to go.

Anunoby is capable of playing as a small ball power forward. He is 6-foot-7.75 (in shoes) with a 7-foot-2.25 wingspan and weighs 235 pounds. Anunoby is strong enough to defend players in the post. He is also long and athletic enough to switch out of the perimeter. Anunoby only played 24 percent of his minutes at power forward last season. However, he spent most of his time there in summer league.

The league is moving away from strictly defined positions. There is more of an emphasis on versatility. Anunoby will likely spend time at both forward spots. He can start the game at the four, but also slide down a position in bigger lineups.

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