Raptors trade rumors: Asking price for Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby revealed

The Toronto Raptors have lost consecutive games against a Bucks team that didn’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo or Khris Middleton and a Timberwolves squad without Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. This is a bad team who needs to make a trade at some point. Let the Raptors trade rumors fly!

Toronto would do well to look at offers for both OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet, the former of whom appears to have hit the ceiling on offense and the latter who has regressed hard. Considering both players’ pedigree, it should surprise no one that they have exorbitant price tags placed on them.

According to Doug Smith of the Toronto Star, the Raptors are asking for two promising young players and a first-round pick in exchange for Anunoby, while VanVleet’s price will likely exceed that. Masai Ujiri is undoubtedly setting the bar high for any of his potential trade chips.

Gary Trent Jr. can be had in a trade for a player and multiple picks, according to Smith. Pascal Siakam is the least likely of the four to be traded, as he will require three impactful players and a first-round pick to be moved. Toronto can’t claim they are short on options.

Toronto Raptors trade rumors: Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby are expensive.

Of these four, Trent appears to be the most likely to be traded. If you’ll allow for some editorializing, I would keep Trent, as his shooting and defense are too valuable and he is still just 24 years old. However, he may require close to $25 million per season if Toronto wants to keep him.

VanVleet is the best trade candidate looking purely at the value the Raptors can recoup and how it would impact the roster. While he has fallen off hard this season, his recent play shows that he is starting to turn things around and can hit big shots for a contender.

Anunoby has had his struggles offensively, but he is one of the game’s best defenders and is currently balling on a very affordable contract. Can Toronto get adequate value for him? Siakam is about to get a supermax deal, but trading him would signal that Toronto is tanking for the next few seasons.

The Raptors’ roster is not going to look the same in a few weeks, as this season has proven that their core, as currently constructed, is not good enough to win anything. It might be necessary to make a move or two if Toronto wants to become a champion with Scottie Barnes at the tip of their spear.