OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam Deal: Raptors as Sellers, Part 2

Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Scotty Burns are the main focus of Project 6-9, although there are other players involved. The idea that not only could he start all three of his players, who are similar in height and wingspan, but that they would grow together and each would allow him to record more than 35 minutes per game, It’s the cornerstone of what the Raptors have been this past year. half. They each have different offensive powers – Siakam is the best paint scorer, Barnes is the best passer, and Anunoby is the best spot-up shooter. The idea of ​​being a good complement is something the Raptors hoped would prove true.

This half season worked against that theory. It’s easy to pick Barnes over the other two, but just a year away from the Raptors they seemed to be more than the sum of their parts, but now they feel decidedly less Considering the Raptors’ standings, it makes sense to consider trading Anunoby or Siakam.

Trading Anunoby would mean a roster reshuffle, moving from Siakam would be “blowing it up” or as close as the Raptors are coming. I am one of the players and will not turn 30 until April 2024.

Create a disclaimer like you did with Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. These are not all the deals I would make if I were in charge of the Raptors. I tried to err on the side of asking for less rather than asking for more in a hypothetical trade, but the idea is to give an idea of ​​what the potential returns of the Raptors core piece might look like. Similarly, my colleague who helped me here considers these trades in a vacuum rather than judging them by the market as a whole.

OG Anunoby. (Chris Young / The Canadian Press via AP)

OG Anunoby

(2 years, $36 million remaining, $19.93 million player option for 2024-25. Anunoby is eligible for an extension this offseason, but unlikely to sign)

The Raptors hoped Anunoby would develop into a more solid offensive playmaker in recent years. On his occasion to do so, it didn’t really happen. Given the chances he gets, Anunoby is the most turnover-prone player on the team and an above-average usage player. For such a strong player, he struggles to finish on contact when he’s on the move.

That being said, Anunoby is, at least, an elite 3-D wing with an emphasis on the ‘D’. He steals, deflects, loose balls he recovers and the league he is at or near the leader. When he keeps his aggression down, he’s a tough, physical defender who’s more versatile than anyone else in the league. Since returning from hip and hand injuries last month, he was posting his 43.1% shooting percentage on his three headers heading into Thursday’s game against Charlotte.

Anunoby has an All-Star advantage and any team would love to have him as a mid-use starter. He should be the most mobile of the three for the Raptors, thanks to his salary (about half that of Siakam and twice that of Barnes). It must take a combination of multiple young rotation his players and draft his picks for the Raptors to let him go.

To Grizzlies: Anunoby, Thaddeus Young (2 years, $16.3M left, $1M guaranteed 2023-24)
To the Raptors: Dillon Brooks (1 year, $11.4 million), Ziaire Williams (3 years, $15.35 million, likely RFA in 2026), Danny Green (1 year, $10 million), 2023 first-round pick and either 2024 first-round pick (from Golden State) or 2025 first-round pick (from Memphis)

Grizzlies Perspective: With Dillon Brooks out of contract, we can get to work. Teams don’t trade soulful pieces in the heat of title contention. Memphis’ Brooks is just that. I like the idea of ​​OG with the Grizzlies – perhaps curtailing this deal and having him the only one coming in from Toronto. Joe Verdon

To Kings: Anunoby
To the Raptors: Rishawn Holmes (3-year, $36.16), Davion Mitchell (3-year, $16.35 million), Indiana/Sacramento Better 2023 2nd-round pick, 2026, 2028 1st-round pick*

(* — Kings need to unprotect 2024 pick to allow Atlanta to trade first-round draft pick.)

Kings’ view: The Kings are happy with their core — yes, that includes veteran small forward/prospective free agent Harrison Barnes. , might be more suited to their book, but this could be seen as an intriguing way for the Kings to adjust and lift the timeline of their core players. their ceiling. De’Aaron Fox (max contract until 2025-26 season) is 25, Domantas Sabonis (free agency in summer 2024) is 26 and Anunoby (also free agency in summer 2024) is 25. Sam Amick

To the Knicks: Anunoby, Kem Birch (2 years, $13.65 million)
To Raptors: Obi Toppin (2 years, $12.19 million, RFA in 2024), Evan Fournier (2 years, $36.85 million, team option for 2024-25), either Knicks or Mavericks better in 2023 1st round pick, 2024 Pistons No. 2-Round, 2025 Knicks 1st round pick

Knicks view: I’m intrigued, but I imagine the Knicks will be working on that 2025 pick. If there’s one lesson to be learned from the Murray trade, it’s that it takes an unsuspecting pick to get it done. I could see it fitting into this roster admirably. I think there might be something here. My biggest question is whether Toronto will do this now, given that I think it can capture similar value in the summer. Fred Katz

To Pelican: Anunoby
To the Raptors: Dyson Daniels (4 years, $25.06 million, RFA in 2026), Devonte Graham (3 years, $36.3 million), 2023 1st round pick, Lakers/Bucks 2024 1st round better than nomination rights

Pelicans take: Alone, this deal seems like a great fit for what New Orleans needs. There is also. But Anunoby’s contract situation makes this a little more complicated. Although still young, Daniels is already a very capable defender at a price favorable to the team. This looks tempting, but I think Pells will probably pass. — Will Guillory

To the Sands: Anunoby
To Raptors: Landry Shamet (4 years, $42.5 million), Dario Saric (1 year, $9.24 million), 2023, 2025, 2027 first-round pick

Sands take: Suns president of basketball operations, James Jones, has been very patient with his assets. With Michal already signed to Bridges by the summer of 2026, I doubt he’ll spend his first three for Anunoby. Jones is waiting for something bigger. Fish, so to speak, from OG— Amick

Pascal Siakam (Bill Stryker/USA Today)

Pascal Siakam

(2 years, $73.34 million, eligible for extension this offseason)

First of all, the Rudy Gobert deal needs to be erased from our collective memory. Yes, the Jazz have four future 1st round picks, a pick swap, Minnesota’s latest 1st round Acquired a pick (Walker Kessler), and three rotation-quality players for the 30-year-old defensive first center. It seems like an outlier. The Raptors can point to anything they want as a price to close the deal.

Something closer to what Cleveland gave up for Donovan Mitchell seems more appropriate, who has an extra year and a half under contract for team control over Siakam. But Siakam is a better bet than signing a contract extension and is a more influential defender than Mitchell, demonstrating his ability to turn his usage up and down to fit the team.

The Jazz got three future first-round picks, a recent first-round pick (Ochai Agbaj) and two rotation players in Mitchell. The Raptors may look younger and leaner in terms of guaranteed money, but given the level Siakam is currently playing at, the returns should be on par.

To the Sands: Siakam and Birch
To Toronto: DeAndre Ayton (4-year, $132.93 million), Jae Crowder (1-year, $10.18 million), 2023, 2025, 2027 first-round pick, 2026 first-round pick Nominal Swap Rights*

(*Ayton needs to approve a trade completed this season. Raptors will likely try to move Crowder to third team)

Sands take: I saw this. Jones, whose experience as a player with Miami’s “Heatles” certainly conveys his opinion of elite teams, can add Siakam as a modern-day Chris Bosh. Devin Booker and Chris Paul ( (albeit at 37) and has a longer title-contending runway than before. When it comes to what Sands has given up, Ayton’s dynamic has been difficult for Sands to navigate for years, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone that he’s part of this package. Amick

To the Grizzlies: Siakam
To Raptors: Tyus Jones (2 years, $29M), Green, Jake Larrabia (4 years, $14.76M, RFA in 2026), Williams, 2023, 2025, 2027 first-round pick , 2024 first-round pick (Golden State), 2024 second-round pick (Toronto).

Grizzlies Perspective: yes. Do it. The Grizzlies saved powder with that one big trade of his. Siakam is worth the capital. They catch him and enhance their chances of going all the way. The Raptors have an opportunity to build a really, really good team. — Verdon

To Warriors: Siakam
To Raptors: Draymond Green (1 year, $25.81 million, 2023-24 player option), Jonathan Kuminga (3 years, $19.39 million, 2025 RFA), Moses Moody (3 years, $13.46 million) , 2025 RFA), – 2026 and 2028 round picks, 2025 and 2027 pick swaps

Warriors take: No. The Warriors plan to protect their future assets more than many in the league expected. There’s a reason we used lottery tickets instead of trading lottery tickets at various points along this path. They are working to re-layer their roster under their aging core. This also includes Kuminga (the best of their recent selections) and Moody, although he We could see them swap future lottery-protected ones for mid-rev boosts first, but like other teams, they don’t have a system. I’ve never been interested in taking down the Akame-type draft pick shelf. Siakam is much more valuable on the open market (and for the Warriors in the long run), but that locker room shows Draymond being more important to the Warriors’ current moment and this last-dance-type title chase. There are veterans who insist. 5th championship ring. — Anthony Slater

(Top photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)