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Keep or Trade? Raptors’ OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam

By Avishai Sol

Oct 26, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) dunks the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) dunks the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 30: O.G. Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors  (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

OG Anunoby

Anunoby is the kind of player every team contending for a title should want. He’s one of the most versatile and impactful defensive players in the league, can space the floor off-ball, attacks the rim, and can occasionally get you 25+ points.

Anunoby’s youth, his very reasonable contract, and his blend of talents that make him malleable to any team’s scheme are why he is one of the most attractive players on the 2023 trade market. Ujiri would also be “selling high” on OG, who is having the best statistical season of his career on both ends of the court and is still only 25 years of age.

Wait. Why do we want to trade this guy again?

All of the above make OG the most tradable player on the team. If Masai Ujiri wanted to move some pieces around, he wouldn’t have to look that far to find a decent offer for Anunoby, The kind of young pieces the Raptors would get back from a team in an Anunoby trade would be significant.

Something else to keep in mind is the clogged artery that is the Raptors frontcourt rotation. It’s a perfect example of too much of a good thing. They have three core pieces, each whose skills demand a starting spot at the forward position, and each who have very different, very valid reasons to be empowered in the Raptors’ offense.

OG Anunoby will start an interesting debate for the Toronto Raptors.

While we have all three playing at once, one of them can never display their full potential. Siakam is clearly the most skilled, Anunoby is the most versatile, and Barnes is the youngest and most naturally gifted.

It would be tough to see any of these forwards go, but one thing must be kept in mind as we explore the old “to trade, or not to trade” question. While we have three, we’re doing one of them wrong.

Now, between Siakam’s All-NBA pedigree and Barnes’ promise of future superstardom, if forced to move one of these players, then the easiest answer would be Anunoby, right? Getting a Donovan Mitchell-type haul wouldn’t necessarily be the worst thing in the world.