NBA Trade Rumors: If the Toronto Raptors receive a big offer for OG Anunoby, they should trade him at the deadline.
As the losing continues to pile up for the Toronto Raptors, it’s looking more and more like a lost season. And, perhaps, the start of a new era of Raptors basketball. This lost season could end up opening a door to a retooling or a full-blown rebuild for the franchise.
And the next week and a half will go a long way in determining that for the Raptors. There have been whispers that the Raptors could move on from Fred VanVleet or Gary Trent Jr. at the trade deadline, considering that they’re both eligible for free agency this offseason, but there’s another player that could be on the move for Toronto at the deadline – OG Anunoby.
While it may seem silly for the Raptors to trade Anunoby, the evidence continues to mount that perhaps it’s time for such a move.
There are already rumblings that Anunoby could want out of Toronto. With one guaranteed year left on his contract after this season, it’s officially time to start monitoring that possibility. Add in that there’s a possibility the team could get an offer in the ballpark of three future first-round picks for Anunoby, and it’s now something that the Raptors can’t help but consider.
The Toronto Raptors are likely heading toward a retooling (if not a rebuild) during the offseason
If that is indeed an offer that the Raptors receive in exchange for Anunoby leading up to the trade deadline, it would be foolish for the team to not accept it. Even more so if there is any legitimacy to the whispers that Anunoby could be frustrated with his current role on a struggling team.
Anunoby aside, the Raptors are likely heading toward a retooling either way. It’s unlikely that the team is going to re-sign both VanVleet and Trent Jr. during the offseason. And Pascal Siakam is a free agent after next season.
In a way, this offseason may in fact be the perfect time for a retooling or a rebuild. The big question that the front office must ask themselves is if this core has hit its ceiling. And there’s a great chance that the answer to that question is yes, especially if there’s no direct road toward adding another star.
This core was tailored made to add a superstar and then go win a championship. But if that superstar is not coming, then perhaps it’s time to break this core up. This core alone is not good enough to win a championship, perhaps let alone make the playoffs.
If the Raptors do end up getting offered three (real) future first-round picks in exchange for Anunoby at the trade deadline, it would be painful if this team didn’t accept the offer. And if that did happen, it would effectively indicate a retooling on the horizon for the Raptors.