The Phoenix Suns “would love” to acquire OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors, according to NBA insider Gerald Bourguet. However, the Suns may not have what it takes to trade for Anunoby.
“OG Anunoby is another player the Suns would love to get their hands on, but his trade value is much higher than Jakob Poeltl’s,” Bourguet wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “Earlier this summer, the Raptors were getting offers for Anunoby similar to the one the Brooklyn Nets reportedly got for Mikal Bridges from the Memphis Grizzlies (four first-round picks).
“At this point, one source said offers for Anunoby have dwindled. Toronto has tried circling back to those previous offers, but teams are declining to meet that price. Perhaps that will open the door for discussions with Phoenix as part of a larger deal, but Deandre Ayton by himself likely wouldn’t be enough to get Anunoby, let alone Poeltl and Anunoby.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns Updates
Anunoby averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists last season for the Raptors while shooting 47.6% from the field, 38.7% from beyond the arc and 83.8% from the free-throw line. Toronto drafted Anunoby with the 23rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He signed a four-year, $72 million rookie contract extension in December 2020 and is eligible to sign a four-year, $116 million extension with the Raptors.
Anunoby has career NBA averages of 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He won the 2019 championship with the Raptors over the Golden State Warriors in six games. The New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies have been heavily linked to Anunoby, who recently left Klutch Sports Group for CAA.
However, the Raptors are not “seriously” listening to trade offers for Anunoby, according to NBA reporter Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Koreen, who covers the Raptors, believes there are two scenarios in which Toronto could trade Anunoby and one of them involves Pascal Siakam, who has one year left on his contract and is seeking a maximum extension.
“If Siakam signs the max extension the Raptors can offer him, he would make about $45.5 million in the second season of that contract, 2025-26,” Koreen wrote. “Let’s also assume Scottie Barnes signs a maximum rookie extension, starting at 25 percent of the cap, next summer, with that contract beginning in 2025-26. If the cap goes up by 10 percent every year, Barnes’ contract would start around $41.1 million.”
With Jerami Grant earning a five-year, $160 million contract from the Portland Trail Blazers, the market for Anunoby could be all the more complicated to resolve on a new contract. Maybe that’s what pushes the Raptors to trade Anunoby so they don’t lose him for nothing next summer if the talented defender declines his 2024-25 player option and enters free agency.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns Updates
The Suns would have a Big 4 of Anunoby, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker if Phoenix’s front office figured out a way to acquire Anunoby from Toronto.
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