A blockbuster trade proposal has the Toronto Raptors continuing their roster retool by dealing away one of the few remaining parts of their 2019 NBA Championship team.
Having lost to the Chicago Bulls in the play-in game, Toronto has now missed the playoffs in two of the last three years. 2022-23 also marked the third straight season in which the Raptors failed to win a playoff series.
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz proposed a massive trade idea that has the Raptors dealing two-way star OG Anunoby to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for De’Andre Hunter, AJ Griffin, a 2024 first-round pick (via the Sacramento Kings) plus 2027 and 2030 third-round picks:
“At 6’7” and 232 pounds, Anunoby is long enough to defend guards and strong enough to switch onto most bigs. A starting five of Young, Dejounte Murray, Saddiq Bey, Anunoby and Clint Capela would be formidable on both ends of the ball.
For Toronto, this is protection against losing another star player in free agency, as Anunoby can choose to turn down his final $19.9 million in 2024-25 and become an unrestricted free agent next summer instead.
Griffin, 19, had a strong rookie season in Atlanta, shooting 39.0 percent from three for the year and averaging 13.4 points in his 12 starts. Hunter, 25, averaged 15.4 points and is just starting a four-year, $90 million contract. Unlike Anunoby, there’s no danger of him leaving anytime soon.
The Raptors also pick up a first-round pick in 2024 via the Kings (lottery-protected) and a pair of future seconds for their trouble.”
The Hawks made a surprise trip to the Eastern Conference Final two years ago, where they were ousted by the eventual NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks. They haven’t been able to replicate that magic ever since, having been eliminated in the first round of the postseason in back-to-back years.
A defensive stalwart and reliable scorer like Anunoby would be the ideal complement to Atlanta’s star guard duo in Trae Young (also mentioned aplenty in recent trade rumors) and DeJounte Murray.
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Last season, the 25-year-old Anunoby averaged 16.8 points, five rebounds and two assists per game in 67 contests. As a sophomore, he helped the Raptors past the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals.
For his career, Anunoby has career averages of 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
