Matt Moore of ActionNetwork.com. writes that his sources have indicated that the Toronto Raptors are willing to discuss a variety of players in trade but have been seeking a substantial return for any assets they might be willing to move. In fact, the word substantial might not cut it. Instead, terms like “insane,” “astronomical,” and “far-fetched” have been used to describe Toronto’s asking prices.
Case in point, OG Anunoby — arguably the most positionally versatile defender in the NBA and someone who guards the toughest matchup each game — has an extremely high asking price. Some say higher than when the Raptors were originally rumored to have him available for trade and were asking for a top-10 pick.
Toronto is five games under the break-even mark, and if they continue to sink down below the .500 mark, trades could be in order. As Michael Grange of Sportsnet writes, “It seems inevitable that changes will be coming, with the Feb. 9th trade deadline a referendum on how much faith Raptors president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster have in their current direction.”
The Raptors are being seen by many as the team to watch. If they start making moves, it could quickly affect what other teams in the NBA — Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Atlanta — start doing. The Raptors have plenty of names other teams would covet, including Siakam, Anunoby, VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., and Precious Achiuwa. Most of these players are on good contracts and in the prime of their careers. They’ll be lots of interest.
