The Memphis Grizzlies have been a rising power in the NBA over the last few years, and last season, they took a significant step forward by winning 51 games and getting the second seed in the Western Conference. But the playoffs were a reminder that they weren’t championship contenders yet, as they were eliminated in six games in the first round by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Although they went out and traded for veteran guard Marcus Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year winner, they still aren’t being discussed as a real title contender. They should win plenty of regular season games again, perhaps even more than they did last year, but they don’t seem to have enough offensive firepower, not to mention maturity, to win it all yet.
After striking out on Damian Lillard, the Toronto Raptors may be open to liquidating a few of their key players. One of those players is OG Anunoby, a productive two-way wing starting to enter his prime at age 26.
His name has come up in trade rumors lately, and he would seem to be a great target for the Grizzlies, as he’s a small forward, which happens to be their weakest position.
Perhaps this proposal would be enough to get Raptors executive Masai Ujiri to say yes.
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: F OG Anunoby
Toronto Raptors Receive: F/C Brandon Clarke, F John Konchar, 2024 First-Round Pick (MEM), 2028 First-Round Pick (MEM)
Maybe the Raptors would demand additional draft compensation for Anunoby. If that’s the case, would Memphis be willing to give up a second-round or even another first-round draft choice? Given how young Memphis is, perhaps it would be a worthwhile risk and investment.
Clarke is a key depth piece for Memphis, but his $12,5 million salary, as well as his inability to shoot from the perimeter, make him a good candidate to go out in a potential Anunoby deal. Konchar is currently slated to start at small forward for the team, but David Roddy and Ziaire Williams should be able to provide just enough depth behind Anunoby. Meanwhile, Xavier Tillman Sr. would replace Clarke as its backup power forward behind Jaren Jackson Jr.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors & Memphis Grizzlies Updates
The Grizzlies have a decent trio in star guard Ja Morant, backcourt mate Desmond Bane, and Jackson, but it doesn’t stack up well against some of the other trios around the NBA offensively. Anunoby is an accurate 3-point shooter who made 38.7 percent of his attempts from downtown last season, and overall, he averaged 16.8 points a game. He attacks the basket well and is a strong finisher in transition, making him a good fit for their style of play.
He also led the league with 1.9 steals per game while making the All-Defensive Second Team for the first time during the 2022-23 campaign. At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, he would make the Grizzlies, who already ranked third in defensive rating last year, even more feared on the defensive end.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors & Memphis Grizzlies Updates
Perhaps trading for Anunoby wouldn’t make them a championship-caliber team right away, given how young they are and the maturity some of their young players still need to gain. But perhaps all the key players they would need for a future championship run would be in place.
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