The Toronto Raptors can potentially shift the balance of power in the NBA if they start selling. While Pascal Siakam seems like the more logical candidate to be moved, one can’t rule out the possibility of OG Anunoby being sent away by Masai Ujiri.
Anunoby has proven to be one of the most valuable players on this team, as the Raptors look unable to do much of anything right when he is off the floor. Even with his obvious skills, the Raptors might need to consider potentially finding a home for him elsewhere.
Even after all the offseason animosity between the two parties, the New York Knicks are always looking to make a splash. Armed with tradeable contracts and draft picks, could a deal be completed relatively soon?
Bleacher Report concocted five trades to jump start potential rebuilds, with the Raptors beginning a philosophy change with an Anunoby trade. However, the haul they are getting back in this deal is wholly inadequate for a player of his caliber.
The Raptors are +46 in OG Anunoby's 251 minutes and -72 in the 287 minutes they've played without him.
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) November 16, 2023
Knew the discrepancy was big but I didn't think it'd be *that* big lol
Grade the Trade: Raptors send OG Anunoby to Knicks in B/R deal.
The Raptors are getting one unprotected first-round pick in this deal. Wow! Let’s throw a parade. Getting value for Anunoby on an expiring contract might prove tough, but there have to be better options out there than this collection of spare parts New York sent over.
Swapping Anunoby for Quickley does not solve Toronto’s issues on either side of the floor. Porter and Fournier can both shoot, but Porter is the more versatile player and a better defender. The bench would still be a mess, and the pick they would get via the Wizards would almost assuredly not covey this year.
The only thing holding this deal back from being a complete failure is the addition of Quickley, who could be an amazing long-term point guard that will provide a jolt of instant offense. Other than that, Toronto would be trading away their second-most important player for pennies on the dollar.
Toronto would be giving up the most talented player in the deal, handing him over to a division rival, and improving their odds of signing him in the offseason. To put things simply, it’s a mess, and a pick five years down the line doesn’t really change that.
Grade: D+