Toronto Raptors small forward OG Anunoby is one of the NBA players whose name recently surfaced on the rumor mill. The Raptors may not have shown a strong indication that they are planning to trade Anunoby this summer, but there are speculations about his unhappiness with the team.
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report said the former No. 23 pick "grew dissatisfied at times" with his role with the Raptors, especially since reigning Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes joined the team.
If his discontent leads to a trade request, the Raptors would be forced to listen to offers for Anunoby on the trade market. One of the top suitors for Anunoby is the Portland Trail Blazers. In a recent article, Kenneth Teape of NBA Analysis Network came up with a hypothetical blockbuster trade idea that would enable the Trail Blazers to acquire Anunoby from the Raptors this offseason.
In the proposed trade scenario, the Trail Blazers would be sending a trade package that includes Eric Bledsoe and the No. 7 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft in exchange for Anunoby.
The proposed trade deal will be worth exploring for the Raptors if Anunoby is no longer interested in staying with the team. Instead of keeping a disgruntled player on their roster, the suggested trade would enable the Raptors to acquire a lottery pick in the upcoming draft.
The Raptors could use the No. 7 pick to draft a young and talented big man or as a trade chip to land a quality center on the trade market. With only $3.9 million of Bledsoe's $19.3 million contract guaranteed, the potential deal would also help the Raptors create salary-cap space this summer.
Sacrificing a lottery pick to acquire Anunoby should be a no-brainer for the Trail Blazers, especially if they are serious about giving Lillard a realistic chance of competing for the NBA championship title in the 2022-23 NBA season.
Anunoby is yet to earn his first All-Star recognition, but he's one of the best two-way players in the league. His potential arrival in Portland would boost the Trail Blazers' performance on both ends of the floor, giving them a very reliable second-scoring option next to Lillard and a great rebounder, defender, and floor spacer.
Whether he's unhappy with the Raptors or not, being traded to the Trail Blazers would make a lot of sense for Anunoby. Unlike in Toronto, where Barnes and Pascal Siakam overshadow him, Anunoby would have the opportunity to become the No. 2 guy in Portland.
Playing for a team that could give him more playing time and a more prominent role on the offensive end of the floor could speed up Anunoby's development into a legitimate superstar in the league.
