The Toronto Raptors are resisting trade inquiries for small forward OG Anunoby, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Anunoby is leaving Klutch Sports Group and will have a new agent soon, per Stein.
“The Raptors continue to consistently resist trade inquiries for in-demand swingman O.G. Anunoby, but there is a bit of Anunoby news for those interested in player representation and its accompanying machinations,” Stein wrote. “Word is Anunoby is leaving Klutch Sports and soon to choose new representation.”
Anunoby signed a four-year, $72 million rookie contract extension with Toronto in December 2020. He has career averages of 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists. The Indiana product won the 2019 championship with the Raptors over the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Toronto drafted Anunoby with the 23rd overall pick in the 2017 draft. Anunoby is open to staying with the Raptors if he’s able to obtain a larger role in the offense moving forward, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. With Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes, there will continue to be overlap, limiting what Anunoby could receive as far as a role.
Anunoby averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 2022-23 while shooting 47.6% from the floor, 38.7% from beyond the arc and 83.8% from the free-throw line. He remains one of the NBA’s elite perimeter defenders with the ability to guard multiple positions at a high level.
The Raptors did make a coaching change in the offseason by firing Nick Nurse and replacing him with Darko Rajakovic. It may be premature to not allow him to establish an identity for the roster and settle the top options into roles. Perhaps Anunoby would be content under new leadership. So far, Rajakovic has given the perception that he’s focused on the players.
“He’s definitely a special coach. You can tell he’s probably going to change a lot of stuff, but it seems like it’s something we needed,” Raptors forward Chris Boucher said of Rajakovic. “He’s really focusing on the players and making sure that we’re good. The first thing he said — he said it every day that I saw him — (is) it’s not about (him), it’s about you guys. And I think that’s something that will really help us get better.”
Where could Anunoby land if the Raptors were to trade him? The Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies are interested in acquiring Anunoby, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. However, it doesn’t look like the Raptors will part ways with their talented swingman.
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