Will Gary Trent Jr. or OG Anunoby start for fully healthy Raptors?

The Toronto Raptors have had one of the most immutable starting lineups in basketball over the last few years. All-Star Pascal Siakam and second-year standout Scottie Barnes would make up the frontcourt, OG Anunoby would hang out in the corner, and the Fred VanVleet/Gary Trent Jr. duo would comprise the backcourt.

The acquisition of Jakob Poeltl and Toronto’s subsequent refusal to trade one of their starters has thrown a wrench into that plan, as a logjam has been created. One of either Anunoby or Trent will have to be moved to the bench in order to accommodate Poeltl.

Common wisdom would suggest that Trent ends up on the bench, as he has already moved to the second unit at one point in the season with some limited success. However, Nick Nurse may need to reconsider that philosophy when OG returns from his wrist injury.

The decision of which player should be sent to the bench is a two-fold move. Not only must Toronto consider which player would benefit the second unit, but they must also factor in which of the two play better alongside the rest of the starters. The decision to ride with Anunoby isn’t so obvious.

Will the Raptors bench Gary Trent Jr. or OG Anunoby?

Do you want an expanded offensive role, OG? Would being the main catalyst off the bench whet your whistle? On a unit that has often surrendered leads due to some bad defensive matchups, having Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa sharing the floor could make for one hell of a combination.

Trent is a better shooter than Anunoby, and a lineup with Poeltl at center is going to be more difficult with spacing and shooting. Trent is also more offensively creative with the ball in his hands while still managing to be effective enough when creating turnovers on the defensive end,

While Anunoby is under contract for one more season and could be traded for a haul in the offseason, Trent is liable to opt out of the final year of his deal. While he has publically said all the right things about being moved around, would it be fair to wonder if he will resign with a team that benched him twice in a contract year?

Anunoby starting might make the lineup a defensive juggernaut, but the Raptors would sacrifice all the shooting and instant offense that Trent provides. Picking which player gets bench will be the biggest decision Nick Nurse has made all season long.