After finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference, there was hope the Toronto Raptors could build on their previous success heading into the 2022-23 season. Instead, we’ve seen Nick Nurse’s team struggle out of the gates and are on track to miss the playoffs.
Now, as Yahoo’s Jake Fischer reports, the Raptors have their eyes on Deandre Ayton, Myles Turner, Jakob Poeltl, and more ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline. With Ayton and Turner being the biggest names mentioned, let’s examine what the potential trade cost for each player may be for Toronto.
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Toronto Raptors trade for Deandre Ayton likely includes O.G. Anunoby
- Toronto Raptors trade: Gary Trent Jr., Chris Boucher, 2023 first-round pick
- Phoenix Suns trade: Deandre Ayton
The Raptors have been hesitant to part with Anunoby in past trade discussions. But if team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Marks are insistent upon “doing something” before the NBA trade deadline passes, as an anonymous NBA AGM states, Anunoby could be in the mix to be dealt.
If Ayton really is a serious target for Toronto, the front office will have to part with some of their top trade chips. Gary Trent Jr. is the one piece most expected to be traded, but Anunoby would be a surprise.
According to Fischer’s sources, rival front office executives have gotten the feeling that parting with Anunoby would require a team to trade “multiple unprotected first-round picks” for the 25-year-old defensive stalwart.
That’s where a trade for Ayton gets so complicated for Toronto. Out of Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and Anunoby, who would the Raptors be more willing to part with? It’s also possible the Suns could package Trent Jr. plus Chris Boucher while including a first-round pick, hoping the Suns would bite. Otherwise, it’s just hard to imagine a trade working out without including Anunoby or another longtime member of the core.
Related: 3 ideal Deandre Ayton trade scenarios at the 2023 NBA trade deadline
How a Myles Turner trade to the Raptors could look
- Toronto Raptors trade: O.G. Anunoby
- Indiana Pacers trade: Myles Turner
If the Raptors can’t strike a deal with Phoenix yet still want to add a center to pair with Pascal Siakam on the low block, Myles Turner may be an ideal option. In addition to being one of the better rim protectors in the league (3rd in NBA in BPG), Turner can also help space the floor. He’s hitting threes at a career-best 39% clip, up from his career average of 35%.
- Myles Turner’s stats in 2022-23: 17.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.3 BPG, 55% FG
But Turner’s in the midst of a career year all around, posting new personal bests in PPG, RPG, and FG%. The Pacers are also just two wins away from matching last season’s total, and Turner has been a large part of their success. While he’s been rumored to be on the trade block for several seasons, don’t expect Indiana to just give their talented 6-foot-11 center away.
Sure, the Raptors may want to try and include a player like Gary Trent Jr. instead of Anunoby, but the Pacers already have a wealth of shooting guards, including Rookie of the Year candidate Bennedict Mathurin, who’s stuck in a bench role for now.
Again, that’s where the front office may be forced to part with Anunoby instead. Unless a third team can be brought in to make the moving parts work better for each team involved, but that opens up a whole new world of possibilities that we won’t get into.
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