The Toronto Raptors were one of the most surprising teams during the 2021-22 season. Many people thought that they were heading for a rebuild after landing the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and Kyle Lowry departed for South Beach in free agency, landing with the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade.
But, the team had other plans. Nick Nurse built a game plan that fit the strengths of his players and they found a lot of success. Toronto finished fifth in the Eastern Conference and gave the Philadelphia 76ers a series in the first round despite being overmatched on the interior.
Coming into the offseason, Toronto was buyers looking to make a splash. They were connected to Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets and Donovan Mitchell of the Toronto Raptors. While no trade was completed, they were certainly in the running.
One of the players that were mentioned as a potential trade piece for Toronto was OG Anunoby. The versatile, two-way forward has improved each season he has been in the NBA and is an integral part of the team’s plans going forward.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: OG Anunoby & Toronto Raptors Updates
However, there were some reports of Anunoby being unhappy with his role on the team. He responded to those rumors during the team’s Media Day and was surprised when he heard about them.
“Even when the report came out I was kind of surprised it. I just kind of woke up one day and saw that. I haven’t really had talked with Nick [Nurse] about [my] role,” Anunoby told the media today. “I just try to get better every summer and everything will fall into place.”
Anunoby is entering his sixth season in the NBA and sounds like a seasoned veteran with a response like that. He isn’t going to let the rumors distract him and is instead focused on his game, looking to improve even more.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: OG Anunoby & Toronto Raptors Updates
There is star potential there, as Anunoby fits the profile of the kind of player that teams are looking to build their rosters around. If he can improve with the ball in his hands as a playmaker and shot creator, the sky’s the limit for the Indiana product.
