Raptors' OG Anunoby proves he is untradable at deadline in loss to Knicks

The Toronto Raptors will be bombarded with trade rumors surrounding both of their veteran star forwards in OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam in the last few months, and those rumblings are only going to get louder as Darko Rajakovic's team starts to fall further down the standings.

The Raptors continued their losing ways against the New York Knicks, as another offensive outburst was let down by their inability to get any sort of stops against Julius Randle and a motivated Knicks team. Anunoby's efforts on both ends, especially from beyond the 3-point line, were one of the main reasons the 136-130 scoreline was that close.

Anunoby finished the game with 29 points and five made 3-pointers, helping Toronto hang around despite a very poor start from beyond the arc and a team that made the collective decision not to adjust their plan of attack against Randle and the rest of the New York offense.

The Raptors are going to make some big changes relatively soon, but games like this need to crystallize the notion that Anunoby has become an untradable player. He is cheaper than Siakam, a much better shooter, and a better fit alongside their long-term personnel.

The Toronto Raptors must realize OG Anunoby is untradable.

Anunoby is not only the best shooter on the Raptors right now, but he's so much better than the other options that it calls into question just how putrid the worst shooting team in the league would sink if they let him go. Teams would do unholy things to acquire someone with his skills on both ends.

Part of the non-financial reason that Siakam has been discussed as a trade candidate more than Anunoby is the fact that Anunoby is a much better fit alongside Scottie Barnes. Surrounding Barnes with a knockdown shooter makes more sense than another identical power forward who demands the ball to be effective.

Teams are trying to make a run at Anunoby, but the latest rumblings make it seem like a Siakam trade is more likely than a move for OG. Not only should the Raptors resist the siren song of trade rumors, but their top priority in the offseason should be extending him.

Anunoby is officially starting to shed the underrated tag, as the rest of the league is starting to realize what a unique chess piece he can be. Any trade deadline that ends with Anunoby in a different uniform would be such an egregious dereliction of duty from the front office that a regime change might be necessary.