At last season’s NBA trade deadline, Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby was a name that was in the rumor mill.
Due to Anunoby’s highly valuable 3-and-D skillset, many teams were inquiring if he was available.
There seemed to be one team that had very high interest in the 26-year-old.
According to Tim McMahon of ESPN, the Memphis Grizzlies almost made a swing to get Anunoby:
“When you talk about a case of waiting too long I think Anunoby very well could end up being something like that. There’s a lot of talk about Anunoby getting traded but I don’t believe there were a lot of trade discussions involving him. I know for example that the Memphis Grizzlies had high, high interest and I don’t know exactly what they would have given up but there were talks for Mikal Bridges and they put four first-round picks on the table there.”
McMahon mentioned that the Grizzles may not have been willing to offer four first-round picks for Anunoby. However, they were prepared to offer “multiple first-round picks” for him.
Anunoby will continue to be a name to monitor throughout this season as interest will seemingly not go away.
The forward averaged 16.8 points, 5 rebounds and 1.9 steals, while shooting 47.6% from the field and 38.7% from deep.
Anunoby has one-year remaining on his contract but does have a $19.9 million player option for 2024-25. Anunoby could enter free agency, which means the Raptors could risk losing him for nothing just like they lost Fred VanVleet for nothing this past offseason.
Depending on how the Raptors’ season goes, there may be a chance the Raptors trade Anunoby at the NBA trade deadline if the price is right.
Could the Raptors be the ‘mystery team’ in Damian Lillard sweepstakes?
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has yet to be moved since his trade request in July.
His preferred destination is still the Miami Heat, but the two sides have not yet ironed out a deal up to this point.
ESPN’s Marc J. Spears mentions that there is a “mystery Eastern Conference team” , that has emerged, could it be the Raptors?
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