The Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings could not have had more contrasting 2022-23 seasons. While OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam were inundated with trade rumors as their team disappointed around them, the Kings broke the longest playoff drought in North American sports by making it to the postseason as the No. 3 seed.
While De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis make up an exceptional core that should help Sacramento stay competitive, and Keegan Murray looks like a fine young prospect, one more big name could be needed. This could lead them to crack open the Anunoby can of worms.
After being shopped around the league at the trade deadline and once again emerging as one of the hottest names on the market, Anunoby has once become a player who could change the game for any team willing to pay what will likely be an exorbitant asking price.
According to Damien Barling of ESPN 1320 in Sacramento, the Kings are “aggressively pursuing” an Anunoby trade. With the Kings also keeping themselves on the periphery of the Bradley Beal sweepstakes, it seems like Monte McNair is subscribing to the “go big or go home” mindset this offseason.
The Sacramento Kings are aggressively pursing Toronto Raptors SF OG Anunoby sources tell @DLoAndKC and @espn1320.
— Damien Barling (@damienbarling) June 15, 2023
NBA rumors: Kings interested in Raptors’ OG Anunoby.
Harrison Barnes is a free agent, but a sign-and-trade deal that sends him to Toronto might help the Raptors get adequate compensation for Anunoby. Players like Malik Monk, Kevin Hurter, and former Top 10 pick Davion Mitchell could be among the names Toronto prioritizes in trade talks.
The Kings had one of the best and most efficient offenses in all of basketball last season, and Anunoby should be able to fit that system like a glove. He won’t dominate the ball and take shots away from Fox, but his catch-and-shoot skills will give Mike Brown another new toy to play with.
Anunoby would also be a major help on the defensive side of things, as Sacramento’s cavalier approach to basketball last season left them lacking in several key defensive areas. With Fox and Sabonis already locked up on very team-friendly deals, the Kings might have the space needed to give OG the contract he deserves.
Bradley Beal
— Will Z. Stats (@will_zimmerle) June 15, 2023
23.2 PTS | 3.9 REB | 5.4 AST | 50.6/36.5/84.2% Splits
3+1 Yr left (PO) $207,740,400
OG Anunoby
16.8 PTS | 5.0 REB | 2.0 AST | 47.6/38.7/83.8% Splits
1+1 Yr left (PO) $38,571,428
Who would you rather have?
The Raptors may find it tough to get a deal done with the Kings, as other contenders in the Western Conference have a greater haul of tradeable assets to part with. However, the panic of desperation could be a powerful thing, and it could force Sacramento to give Toronto a king’s ransom (no pun intended) for Anunoby.