Raptors news: Knicks after OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr. value low

No team is being observed at the NBA Trade Deadline with a greater degree of scrutiny than the Toronto Raptors. Just a few months after trading OG Anunoby or Gary Trent Jr. was thought to be an impossible scenario, Toronto is now very close to potentially trading away both of these players.

Anunoby is starting to look like the most likely trade candidate of the bunch, as he is both in the middle of a very affordable contract and allegedly is getting frustrated with his role in Toronto. The latest buzz from some of the Raptors insiders hints at the idea that his price is nothing short of astronomically high.

According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, the Knicks were reportedly the team that was willing to offer up as much as three first-round picks in order to acquire Anunoby. One of the reasons Toronto may not have accepted such a deal could have been some of the protections on those picks.

Anunoby is averaging just under 17 points per game while leading the league in steals per game. Contenders and wannabe contenders across the league, including the Knicks, will be tripping over themselves to acquire him if Toronto decides to waive the white flag.

More Raptors news:

• The latest buzz suggests that Gary Trent Jr. may not be as expensive as previously thought. Grange reported that Trent could be had for a protected first-round pick or two second-round picks, along with a contract of similar value. That value seems low for a player that can average over 20 points per game regularly at 24 years old.
• Pascal Siakam hasn’t been his usual All-NBA self of late, perhaps due to his league-leading minutes per game burden and the trade rumors swirling around the team. Siakam gave his thoughts on his slump. “I’ve got to figure it out,” Siakam said, per The Athletic. “Obviously, you’re not winning, so everything feels kind of weird. You just keep going.

NBA news

• Scottie Barnes and Evan Mobley were among the sophomore players that were named to the NBA Rising Stars competition at All-Star Weekend. Those second-year stars will mix it up against rookies like Paolo Banchero and Bennedict Mathruin as well as G League players like Scoot Henderson and Leonard Miller.
• CBS Sports’ latest rumor drop claims that “half the league” is interested in Atlanta Hawks wing Bojan Bogdanovic. The Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors are both in on Philadelphia 76ers wing Matisse Thybulle, while the New York Knicks might try to acquire Saddiq Bey.