3 important Raptors storylines to watch early in 2023 season
By Mike Luciano
![TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 2: Masai Ujiri President of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 2: Masai Ujiri President of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/c5bfdea1049696105dfc78e88e5da4af4f12d47c7d38e59db74d505474c8dae5.jpg)
1. Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby
The Raptors are dealing with two ticking time bombs in Siakam and Anunoby. Both of them could be on the trading block if things go sour, but there exists a future where both of them end up getting long-term deals with Toronto if Ujiri doubles down on this core.
While the future where the band stays together is possible, that seems a bit too sunshine and rainbows considering the state of the franchise. The Raptors will likely move off one of them, and it will be on them to perform well in the name of keeping their value as high as possible.
Will the Toronto Raptors trade Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby?
With Anunoby fresh off an All-Defensive appearance for the first time in their career and Siakam trying to earn a supermax contract that could make him one of the highest-paid players in the league, both of them have added motivation to play their best in what may be their swan song.
Of course, their individual motivations could conflict with Rajakovic’s desire to get everyone involved in the offense and play a more accommodating style of basketball. Will that cause trouble in paradise, or will both Siakam and Anunoby fall in line behind Barnes?