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This Raptors-Blazers trade sends OG Anunoby to Portland

ByMatthew Chiu|
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 30: O.G. Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors dunks after the whistle during the first half of their NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Scotiabank Arena on December 30, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 30: O.G. Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors dunks after the whistle during the first half of their NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Scotiabank Arena on December 30, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

It’s not a hot take to say that the OG Anunoby Toronto Raptors have had a brutal first half of the season. Sitting at the No. 11 seed with a 20-25 record, this team has come down to earth after a surprisingly successful season last year.

The Raptors have been involved in trade rumors all season, but for all the wrong reasons. Toronto is typically seen as buyers at this point of the season, but the shortcomings likely put them as sellers right now. There isn’t a single player on the roster (outside of Scottie Barnes) who hasn’t at least been thrown around in the rumor mill.

Former Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum has added to the rumor mill by saying that certain Raptors are unhappy. OG Anunoby was someone who was rumored to be displeased with his role last offseason. The Trail Blazers desired his “3 and D” role and a player who would fit tremendously next to Damian Lillard.

Once again, the Blazers are teetering around the .500 range and are likely looking for improvements around Lillard. With the struggles and recent rumors Toronto has faced, could they resume trade talks with Portland and potentially kickstart their rebuild?

This Toronto Raptors-Portland Trailblazers trade ships off OG Anunoby.

The entire league has probably made a call to Masai Ujiri about the pricy Anunoby, and according to Jake Fischer, the Raptors are seeking similar compensation to the Dejounte Murray package (three first-round picks and a pick swap).

Portland may be the perfect team for both sides, given Anunoby’s seamless fit next to Lillard and the potential package they could provide to pry away one of Ujiri’s prized possessions.

Simons would be the most significant get in any trade with Portland, which is why the draft compensation isn’t quite up there in this package. The 23-year-old, fresh off of signing a four-year, $100 million deal, is averaging 21.9 points and 4.0 assists per game this season.

He’s someone most teams wouldn’t want to trade, but with the Blazers moving off McCollum because of his questionable fit next to Dame, Portland may not want to double down on a similar backcourt following the addition of Shaedon Sharpe.

Johnson, the 21st pick in last year’s draft, has already been traded once already, but that doesn’t make him any less intriguing. He’s a raw player who has struggled to show consistency early in his career, but Johnson’s pure athleticism makes him a perfect project for the development staff that Toronto has.

Both teams would end up happy in this scenario. Toronto gets an extra draft pick plus a young-scoring guard to pair with Scottie Barnes for the foreseeable future, while Portland gets the lockdown defender they have been trying to acquire for years.