As a majority of the league became trade eligible on Dec. 15, it marked the unofficial start of trade season.
The Toronto Raptors have been one of the teams heavily involved in rumors. Some deja vu from last February with speculation on whether or not the Raptors will sell.
After suffering a loss to the defending champion Denver Nuggets, Toronto is now 11-16 on the season. If the team remains below .500, it could certainly result in a move or two.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Sacramento Kings do not have significant interest in O.G. Anunoby:
“If they go for players like the Toronto Raptors Pascal Siakam or OG Anunoby who have drawn interest from the Kings in the past, and who are headed for free agency this summer, then the massive cost of retaining them in the offseason would have a significant impact on what the Kings were willing to offer to acquire them in the first place. Siakam is on an expiring deal, and Anunoby is widely expected to decline his $19.9 million player option for next season. Those two particular prospects appear unlikely at the moment, but we still have a long way to go for the market to evolve. Anunoby, more specifically, does not appear to be of significant interest to the Kings.”
It was previously rumored that the Kings were interested Anunoby, but the prospect of having to pay him when he declines his option is a deterrence. Even if the Kings wanted to pay Anunoby, there is still the possibility of him leaving to sign elsewhere.
In any trade with Sacramento, the Raptors were expected to ask for second-year forward Keegan Murray.
All in all, the Kings seem reluctant to trade for Anunoby or Pascal Siakam.
Eastern Conference contender eyeing Anunoby
The Raptors forward is expected to garner a lot of interest as the trade deadline approaches.
The Philadelphia 76ers are currently monitoring the situation in Toronto, so expect them to be aggressive as they look to win a championship with Joel Embiid.
Have you subscribed to the Raptors Nation YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
