Would OG Anunoby be worth nine-figure contract under new CBA?

The Toronto Raptors have some very difficult decisions to make in the next few months, as it will be impossible to retain all the quality players currently populating this roster. OG Anunoby has been a trade candidate and potential flight risk in free agency, but Masai Ujiri could just as easily cave and sign him to a long-term deal.

While Anunoby has reportedly expressed frustration with his role in the offense, and he has been thrown to the backburner in favor of Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes, his performance alongside those stars has reaffirmed that he is a player worthy of an enhanced role and a new nine-figure deal.

According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, the new CBA rules mean that Anunoby is eligible for an extension worth $116 million over four years. That deal far exceeds that $72 million extension he already signed, widely regarded as one of the more team-friendly contracts in the league.

Money is going to be watched tightly, as Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes could both conceivably be extended beyond 2024 while Gary Trent Jr. hits the open market following what promises to be another solid season. Would extending him make sense?

Should the Toronto Raptors extend OG Anunoby?

Anunoby’s defense and shooting are beyond reproach, as he has spent the last few years proving that he can consistently shoot close to 40% from 3-point range while laying All-Defensive Team-level on-ball defense. A First-Team nod in the near future may not be unreasonable.

$116 million for a player of his caliber might not be a terrible value at the end of the day, as the cap will only continue to rise. Paying Anunoby slightly less than what Dejounte Murray is making seems like a solid middle ground that compensates him fairly without dipping into max territory.

The main reason some fans might not be all-in on an Anunoby resurgence is the fact that he has often struggled with creating shots for himself and others on the offensive end. While he’s made strides in the area, has he made enough to consider jettisoning some solid pieces and giving him even more responsibility?

Masai Ujiri has a bit of a bad habit when it comes to overvaluing his own players and refusing to part ways with them in trades, but his insistence on the idea of Anunoby becoming an immutable part of the Raptors’ future may eventually help him land a new contract with the squad.