3 young scoring guards Raptors could add at trade deadline

1. Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic

Anthony is not going to have a long-term future in Orlando. Not only are Jalen Suggs and Paolo Banchero coming into their own, but the Magic will likely have two Top 10 picks in the NBA Draft to further stock their cupboards. Anthony’s numbers are slipping, but Toronto could get them back up.

Anthony’s scoring may have fallen from 16.3 per game to just 12.1 after the addition of Banchero, but his efficiency has ticked upward slightly. With his ability to leap and attack the basket while creating for himself in an environment that lacked offensive talent around him, Anthony could take off.

Cole Anthony could help the Toronto Raptors’ bench.

Anthony being in charge of the bench could help the Raptors get the production they have been begging Malachi Flynn to provide. From a scoring perspective, Anthony isn’t a tremendous 3-point shooter, but he will have very few equals on this team in terms of finishing inside.

Anthony is too talented to be relegated to Orlando’s third point guard role. With Fred VanVleet’s status completely up in the air, Anthony might be able to potentially be the short-term starter if they choose not to make Scottie Barnes the primary ball-handler.