NBA Rumors: It’ll Cost A "Sh*tload” For 2 Raptors Stars On Trade Market
With all eyes on the Toronto Raptors, and what they intend to do with their roster as we get closer to the trade deadline, the most desirable names for opposing teams are undoubtedly Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.
But what would the cost be of acquiring one of those stars from Raptors president Masai Ujiri?
Maybe they go all in and consider trading Siakam and Anunoby for what would likely be massive returns of picks and young talent. “A sh*t-load” was the ballpark estimate provided by one league insider.
Teams would be looking at a very hefty cost indeed for either of those two players. Both have improved this year to the point that their values have never been higher.
Siakam is having the best year of his career, and is surely in line for his second straight All-NBA honor. He's averaging 26.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists. He recently put up a 52-spot at Madison Square Garden.
Anunoby is arguably in the running for Defensive Player of the Year, leading the NBA in steals, at 2.2 a game, while also upping his offense to a career-high of 18.6 points per game, while shooting 35.3% from long-range (though that is so far down a bit from recent years).
The Raptors find themselves in an uncertain situation, with so many key players on good contracts, at or approaching their primes, and either a year or two away from renegotiation time. Gary Trent Jr. and Fred VanVleet will be free agents at season's end, so their values aren't nearly as high as Siakam and Anunoby.
As Grange notes, one person familiar with the organization says “there is an antsiness” around the team.
The next five weeks will tell the tale of which direction the Raptors are headed. And as we reported earlier, the entire NBA trade deadline is hinging on which way they go.
Photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Post a Comment