Grade the Trade: B/R move sends Raptors' OG Anunoby to Kings for multiple picks

The Toronto Raptors are listening to half the league try to get Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby away from them in trade conversations. While many will attempt to pilfer them, the Sacramento Kings might be one contender that actually has a shot of getting a deal done if they include the right names.

The Kings may not be willing to throw Keegan Murray in any trades for either Siakam or Anunoby, but the Raptors will likely try to get him thrown into the rumor mill. Some still believe there is a legitimate chance that a deal could come without Murray being involved in proceedings.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed a swap that would send Anunoby to Sacramento in exchange for Harrison Barnes, two first-round picks in 2027 and 2029, and a pick swap in 2028. The Raptors would be loading up on draft picks if they pull this trade off.

On the surface, it seems tolerable. The Kings get the third star they have needed for so long, and the Raptors could get three first-round picks in consecutive years for an impending free agent. However, the Raptors might be leaving a lot of meat on the bone as they try to explore all of their options.

Grade the Trade: B/R trades Toronto Raptors' OG Anunoby for draft picks.

While Barnes is still a solid player as his gets older, the Raptors should have some serious pause if it comes to accpeting a trade package for a player like Anunoby with him as the only player in return. In both 2023 and 2024, Barnes is going to be a major downgrade from Anunoby.

The draft pick compensation is a bit of a double-edged sword. While getting as many as three first-round picks for a flight risk free agent would be a win for Masai Ujiri, these picks are so far in the future that they lack much utility for this front office that doesn't exactly have solid job security.

The Raptors shouldn't just make a trade with any random team for the sake of making a trade. They shouldn't deal Anunoby unless they can get picks in either of the next two drafts and one player who can materially change the rotation.

The Raptors need to get a player with a higher ceiling than Barnes can provide at this point in his career, and giving up Anunoby to get him doesn't seem like a fair swap. Getting those picks will be excellent, but will Ujiri even be around to make use of them with how far in the future they are?

Grade: C