Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G/F OG Anunoby, F Kenrich Williams
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: 7th Overall Pick (via POR), G Eric Bledsoe
Toronto Raptors Receive: 12th Overall Pick (via OKC), F/C Derrick Favors, G/F Luguentz Dort
Two rumors make this deal a possibility — or at least a logical pipe dream. Firstly, both Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers have expressed interest in bringing OG Anunoby’s two-way prowess to the Pacific Northwest.
Unfortunately for the Blazers, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report also divulged that executives around the league don’t believe that OG would be available even for a package that consisted of Portland’s seventh pick and utility player Josh Hart.
That report could have simply been a leak to drive up the price for Anunoby’s services, but I suspect that it has to do more with the fact that Josh Hart wouldn’t be addressing any needs for the Raptors. Between Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, and even Dalano Banton, Toronto has plenty of defensively-capable secondary playmakers with size. What they truly lack is a defensive anchor.
That brings us to the second part and third team of this trade. There have been whispers that the Thunder are enamored with Baylor’s Jeremy Sochan and are highly interested in moving up from their 12th-slot to guarantee themselves the opportunity to acquire his defensive versatility and transition playmaking. Enter OKC into this transaction to turn into a three-team deal that hits the mark for every part involved.
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The Trail Blazers finally get the two-way wing they’ve dreamed of to run alongside Dame, and Kenrich Williams provides additional forward depth for a roster that desperately needs it. The Thunder jump up to seven, the perfect spot to draft Sochan, and they get to try to rebuild Eric Bledsoe’s trade value like they’ve done with numerous veterans in the past.
Lastly, the Toronto Raptors grab a true big in Derrick Favors, a versatile defender and budding offensive player in Lu Dort, and a first-round pick with which they can add to their promising young core. This is a win-win-win.
