10 Toronto Raptors who turned their back on the franchise
The Toronto Raptors don't have the same long and storied history as teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. They are one of the league's youngest teams, joining the NBA as an expansion team in 1995. They have logged just 29 of the NBA's 78 seasons.
Unfortunately, that hasn't spared the Raptors from a lot of heartache and betrayal over the years. One of the worst parts of sports fandom is when a beloved player turns their back on a team. That commonly looks like walking in free agency, but it also includes trade demands and suspensions. It's not limited to players, either; coaches and general managers can hurt a team as well.
Let's illustrate the point by taking a stroll through Raptors history, highlighting 10 times a player or executive turned their back on the team, whether that move was merely hurtful or outright devastating. Buckle up, for those 29 seasons have generated a lot of painful memories for the Raptors and their fans.
No. 10: OG Anunoby
Let's ease into our list with the mildest example of a player turning their back on the franchise. OG Anunoby was an unquestioned draft success by the Raptors' front office, who snagged the Indiana forward one pick before the Denver Nuggets in the 2017 Draft; imagine the "what if" if the Nuggets had landed an All-Defense Candidate instead of Tyler Lydon, a forgettable draft bust.
Anunoby developed into a strong two-way forward with a consistent 3-point stroke and all-league defense; his combination of size, speed and strength made him perfect to deploy on all manner of opponents. At 26 years old the Raptors could have kept him around this year and made him a key part of their core moving forward.
Yet as the Raptors pondered their options during trade season, Anunoby reportedly was ready for a change of scenery, and he let management know how he felt. Toronto proceeded to move him in a trade to the New York Knicks in a move that brought back a pair of young players but no first-round picks.
A quiet trade request is not as painful as it could be, but he was yet another player ready to move on from the 905. If he had communicated that he wanted to be a part of what the Raptors were building, he would almost certainly be on the team right now and forming a dynamic pairing with Scottie Barnes. Instead, he is out the door, another departed Toronto player.