Raptors news: OG Anunoby makes All-Defensive, top recruit work out

The Toronto Raptors have long held one of the league’s best-kept secrets under their nose, as OG Anunoby has been consistently underrated by the powers that be in the NBA. His defensive skills are elite, yet names like Matisse Thybulle got more All-Defensive Team love than him.

Anunoby was putting together an excellent season last year, but injuries helped take some of the luster off his star. Luckily, the Raptors star finally got his deserved prize from the rest of the media, making one of the league’s most exclusive teams for his 2022-23 performance.

After leading the league in steals per game, Anunoby was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team. Memphis’ Dillon Brooks, Miami’s Bam Adebayo, Golden State’s Draymond Green, and Boston’s Derrick White rounded out this very impressive second team. Anunoby’s versatility and excellence on-ball made him a natural choice for this team.

Fans might have some gripes about names like Alex Caruso getting on the first team over Anunoby, but it’s nice to see him be included. Anunoby has the eighth-highest point total of any player this season, showing that his health is not going to prevent him from wider league recognition.

More Raptors news

• The Raptors have requested a workout with North Carolina State center Isaiah Miranda. A former top-50 recruit, Miranda entered the transfer portal after some behind-the-scenes friction prevented him from playing this season. The 7-1 center is unlikely to be drafted, but could either sign as a UDFA or return to school.
• Bleacher Report proposed a truly outrageous trade, sending New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson to the Raptors in a package that would bring Pascal Siakam to New Orleans. While there would be some merit to this deal in a vacuum, it’s hard to see either of these two getting shipped away.

NBA news

• The Boston Celtics were smacked around by Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers, falling behind 3-2 in their playoff series. The Celtics need to rattle off two straight wins, including one on the road, to avoid Joe Mazzulla’s first season ending in postseason disappointment and disaster.
• The Denver Nuggets embarrassed the Phoenix Suns in Game 5 of their postseason series, taking a 3-2 lead in the process. The trend of the home team dominating in this series has continued, as no road team has won a game. Furthermore, the home team has won comfortably most of the time.