Yahoo’s Fischer: Trail Blazers among teams ‘linked to Anunoby’

The Portland Trail Blazers remain in the running for the Raptors’ O.G. Anunoby, as reported by Yahoo! Sports writer Jake Fischer. His price may end up being less than the Raptors were originally anticipating as well, as teams hope for Kevin Durant to be available in the offseason.

"“The Pelicans, Grizzlies, Knicks, Pacers, Trail Blazers, Lakers, Suns and Nets have all been linked to Anunoby in recent days, though the Raptors, sources said, have communicated asking prices that rival front offices think quite steep…But officials from multiple teams also told Yahoo Sports that they expect that the number of front offices quietly preparing for Kevin Durant to become available via trade this offseason will likely dampen the Raptors’ bidding war for Anunoby’s services, at least to some degree.”"

Anunoby is a premier two-way player on a team-friendly contract, so acquiring him won’t be cheap, but if he’s available for a more reasonable price, the Blazers should go for it.

O.G. Anunoby could be a perfect fit alongside Portland’s current core

The window to win a title with superstar Damian Lillard is getting smaller by the season, and adding a talent like Anunoby on a deal that won’t compromise the Blazers’ cap space is a strong move toward competing.

Anunoby is considered an elite defensive player and would immediately improve the Blazers’ 19th-ranked defense. He would be an answer to the high-level scorers the Blazers would need to beat en route to a championship.

Portland doesn’t need another 20-point-per-game player if they retain Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant alongside Lillard. It’s not that Anunoby is a slouch offensively, but he gives the Blazers strong defense at the forward spot, a position currently manned by Josh Hart, who is a guard playing small forward.

At 25 years old with two years left on his contract, Anunoby is an acquisition for the present and the future. The Blazers would be able to immediately improve their rotation and see if Anunoby is a good fit to be extended alongside Grant to form a strong pairing with Simons.

That could potentially keep them in contention after Lillard retires.

Anunoby would likely cost at least Hart and Shadeon Sharpe. While Sharpe is potentially a future all-star-caliber player, he’s only 19, and his development timeline doesn’t match up with the rest of Lillard’s career.

If the Blazers can get Anunoby for Hart and Sharpe, or convince the Raptors to take Hart and a player like Nassir Little along with a pick or two, they should take the shot to put an elite defender alongside the scoring prowess of Lillard.

If they can pull off a trade like this, they would likely be one big man away from being a true contender, and would have the cap space to do so.