The Toronto Raptors have been inundated with trade rumors in the last few months, as both Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby have been thrown into the rumor mill at different times. With Siakam’s Hawks rumors having died down, attention could switch to Anunoby.
With Siakam still standing out as one of the best players in the league at any position and Scottie Barnes likely trying to become the Raptors’ feature player for the next few seasons, Anunoby (an impending free agent) might be viewed as the least important of those three players.
The Raptors have been resistant to trading Anunoby in the past, as the combination of inadequate veterans being sent back to Toronto in trade package and an unwillingness by other teams to include unprotected first-round picks prevented any finalization. If the Raptors start losing, however, things could change.
The Raptors will likely seek some sort of high-end draft compensation and either one intriguing veteran who can replace Anunoby or a young player who can emerge as a long-term building block. One of these three players could end up becoming a solid Anunoby replacement.
3 players the Toronto Raptors could replace OG Anunoby with.
3. Buddy Hield
Hield is about as far away from a stylistic match as possible when compared to Anunoby on the defensive end, but he remains a terrific 3-point shooter who can join the Toronto rotation and make an impact in one of the areas that impacted the team most.
The Pacers had considered trying to acquire Anunoby in the past despite the emergence of Bennedict Mathurin and the drafting of Jarace Walker. That is a solid foundation, but the Pacers could end up pulling this trade off if they want to jump into the contending tier firmly.
Will the Pacers get OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors?
Hield is another impending free agent, but he could potentially be a player Toronto holds on to. Not only is Anunoby heading towards free agency, but Gary Trent Jr. might earn a contract that is close to nine figures. Hield and Gradey Dick might be the cheaper replacement for that duo.
Getting Hield as one of the main prizes in an Anunoby deal might be seen by some as slightly disheartening, but few veterans that Toronto might be able to acquire can transition to a complementary role as seamlessly. Getting Hield for a potential free agent like OG might be good business from Masai Ujiri.