NBA Trade Rumors: Blazers prepared to ‘prioritize’ pursuing OG Anunoby

NBA Trade Rumors: According to a recent report, the Portland Trail Blazers are prepared to prioritize pursuing an OG Anunoby trade this offseason. 

The Portland Trail Blazers have to feel the pressure that surrounds them heading into the offseason. They must significantly upgrade the roster next to Damian Lillard and the time to do so starts now – with the 2021-22 NBA regular season officially in the books.

While there is a myriad of avenues for the Blazers to improve the roster this summer, it seems like the most efficient way to do so will have to come via the trade market. And one player that has already been linked to the Blazers in the past is OG Anunoby.

Adding to that reporting, the Blazers not only like the possibility of exploring a trade for Anunoby, but the expectation is that the team is going to prioritize him over every other target this offseason.

"[via Bleacher Report]The Trail Blazers are expected to retain starting center Jusuf Nurkic, and they are prioritizing Toronto Raptors swingman OG Anunoby in any return for the No. 7 pick in next week’s draft, sources said."

This makes a lot of sense when you not only consider what the Blazers need but also what the best fit would be next to Lillard.

Anunoby is the type of 3-and-D wing that would fit exceptionally well next to Lillard. He would take the defensive pressure off of Dame and has already proven that he can carry some of the offensive burden of a team as well.

Anunoby is coming off a season in which he averaged 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists per game on 44 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent shooting from 3-point range. Playing next to Lillard will only open up the floor on the offensive end for him too.

I’m not sure if the Blazers could get away with Anunoby being the sole addition for the team this season, but there’s no question that they should target him if he is indeed available.