NBA Rumors: Toronto Raptors have held talks with multiple teams regarding OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam
Recent NBA rumors suggest that the Toronto Raptors are talking to teams regarding OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam. The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor shed more light on the situation while presenting the Brooklyn Nets as a target.
The Raptors have been one of the major entities in trade rumors as of late. Given their underwhelming performances this season, several teams have kept a close eye on Toronto and their roster.
In this regard, the Toronto Raptors have also made certain players available for trade. While sophomore Scottie Barnes appears to be off the table in trade negotiations, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby have garnered a lot of interest.
There have already been rumblings regarding the price placed upon Siakam and Anunoby. NBA insider Matt Moore recently reported that the Raptors' asking price has "been described as 'insane,' 'astronomical,' and 'far-fetched.'" While the consensus around the league suggests that the price may be too high, teams have shown an interest in pursuing the two players regardless.
Kyrie Irving's move to the Dallas Mavericks has created opportunities for the Raptors to pursue a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, per Kevin O'Connor. Mentioning the possibility of a trade between the two teams, O'Connor wrote that Brooklyn is "one of the teams" that is "most connected" to the Raptors.
O'Connor added that the Raptors "have had trade talks with multiple teams involving Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby," but Toronto's interest in signing the Nets' Ben Simmons dates back to 2021. Per The Ringer's report, Simmons could present a "buy-low, high-value target" for the team in the coming season.
The Raptors have had trade talks with multiple teams involving Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby, per @KevinOConnorNBA
(Via theringer.com/nba/2023/2/5/2…) https://t.co/cacoesZia0
While both Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby have garnered significant attention from teams around the league, Anunoby, in particular, has been linked to teams such as the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns.
Other players on the Raptors roster, such as Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr., have also been viewed as trade targets, but they haven't received as much attention.
With a 25-30 record, the Toronto Raptors are not necessarily in a position to make noise in the playoffs at this stage. Whether this calls for some changes or a full-scale rebuild is yet to be seen.
The Toronto Raptors may go into a rebuild
The Toronto Raptors appear to be a team in disarray at this point in the season. Although they recently managed to record consecutive wins, the team may be on the verge of falling apart ahead of the trade deadline.
While the emphasis seems to be on building around Scottie Barnes, the Raptors will have to decide on Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.
With two immensely talented players potentially on the way out, Toronto may have to seriously consider a rebuild.
As Anunoby garners more interest from teams, the Toronto Raptors forward may also see himself returning to his natural position as a shooting guard in other systems. Meanwhile, Siakam presents a massive upside to any team he is on.
While there is a possibility that no trades will happen, Toronto may not see much success out of this core anymore. In this regard, making a trade happen while the players still have value would be wise.