NBA Trade Rumors: 4 playoff teams that should sellers this offseason

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors were the impetus for this thought exercise, long before OG Anunoby trade ideas began to spread. They simply have a ton of awesome players on short-term contracts, which makes it obvious that some team will overbid for one, the Raptors be open to collecting picks, rather than risk overpaying for all their own players.

Pascal Siakam is up for a three-year, $130M extension this offseason that will take him through 2027. Fred VanVleet could tack on an extra four years, $114M to his existing contract if he opts out of his 2023-24 option. I think the team should try to extend both, but if VanVleet refuses, they’d need to seriously consider trading him – because that signals he wants closer to a full max, which seems like too much money to give a small guard who will be in his 30s during the entirety of the new contract.

I have trade ideas for VanVleet and Anunoby, but not Siakam, who I value too highly alongside Barnes (especially under contract two more full years) to think trading for any feasible package is advisable.

VanVleet to Knicks for Immanuel Quickley, Evan Fournier, #11, and 2023 first-round pick (via Mavericks)

New York has been hungry for an All-Star point guard for as long as I’ve watched basketball. And the best they’ve done is half a season of Raymond Felton, and a washed Kemba Walker. This would satisfy a delusional fanbase, while giving a Raptors team much of Van Vleet’s playmaking and shooting, with Quickley’s good value contract balancing Fournier’s bad one. The picks may become one or two good role players, too.

Anunoby to Heat for Duncan Robinson, 2027 and 2029 unprotected picks, 2026 pick swap

Anunoby’s defense would be perfect for the Heat, who have been trying to trade Robinson. Anunoby will likely never be more than the third-best forward of the Raptors’ current core. Miami is currently lacking a clear number two option behind the incandescent Butler, but if Tyler Herro ever hopes to become that, he’ll need a defensive ace to cover for him, and Anunoby fits that bill perfectly.

Defensive lineups featuring Butler, Anunoby, P.J. Tucker, Kyle Lowry, and Bam Adebayo could be historically dominant.

For Toronto, fans have floated an Anunoby trade with the Kings’ 4th pick, or the Portland Trail Blazers’ 7th, which makes some sense even if they’re not quite enough for the league’s preeminent 3-and-D player. A deal offering numerous future picks doesn’t guarantee any lottery picks, but it would land an elite marksman to make a bottom-12 team in 3-point shooting led by giant point forwards more lethal on offense than Anunoby ever could.

Robinson’s low usage on offense and deadly shooting could really unlock something in Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes. And if Robinson’s poor defense truly hinders title hopes the Raptors may build over the duration of his contract, the good news is his contract will become more tradable the fewer years remain on it.