NBA Trade Deadline Odds: Best Bets & Analysis Experts

The 2023 NBA Trade Deadline is Thursday, Feb. 9, and it’s looking more and more likely that the best all-around player who could be on the move by then is Toronto Raptors small forward OG Anunoby, who is signed for the next two seasons on a very team-friendly deal.

Why would the Raptors deal him? Because they are going nowhere this season and may need a mini-reboot with all the draft picks Anunoby would bring in return – Toronto also could trade guards Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr., but neither would bring back as much in return because both are set for free agency this summer. Here are all the details for your Betting Odds NBA .

OG Anunoby May Have Played Last Game With Raptors

Anunoby is averaging 16.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists and is a terrific defender – he leads the NBA in steals. He can defend multiple positions and is only 25. Anunoby can guard a ball-dominant guard in James Harden and then switch off and guard Joel Embiid in the same possession as one example. He finishes at the rim at almost a 70 percent clip and is a career 37 percent three-point shooter.

Anunoby hasn’t played since Jan. 27 due to a wrist injury and won’t play on the team’s current road trip through the Western Conference. Imaging has been done on the wrist and Anunoby will be re-evaluated when the Raptors return home after their game in Memphis on Feb. 5. Thus, the last chance for Anunoby to potentially don a Raptors uniform could be on Feb. 8 at home vs. San Antonio.

The 6-foot-7 Anunoby, who is from London, has denied rumors he’s unhappy in Toronto, even as trade speculation grows.

“It is what it is,” Anunoby said. No, it doesn’t bother me. What can I do about it? I didn’t tell anyone to do that story or say whatever. It’s not my choice for whatever is going on to be going on. I can’t control it, so what’s the point of being mad about it?”

On Tuesday, NBA insider Shams Charania reported the Raptors are now taking calls on Anunoby.

“The Knicks are willing to give up multiple first-round picks for O.G. Anunoby, but another team in the last week or so that’s emerged is the Phoenix Suns,” he said. “They’re a team that has the assets; eight first-round draft picks at their disposal between now and 2030. They’ve got the picks, they’ve got players. They’ve got guys like Cam Johnson, expiring contracts like Dario Saric, Jae Crowder.”

The Knicks were unable to swing a deal for All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell last summer before he was sent from the Jazz to the Cavaliers for three first-round picks, three players and two additional first-round pick swaps. Anunoby wouldn’t cost that much. For perhaps a closer comparison, the Spurs got three first-rounders plus a first-round swap from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Dejounte Murray this past summer.

There also has been speculation that the Memphis Grizzlies could make a run at Anunoby, given their surplus of draft picks in the years to come and that the Grizzlies may be just one piece away from true NBA title contention.

Another reason that Anunoby is perhaps now tradeable is the emergence of Precious Achiuwa, who has been starting in his place. Achiuwa made his second consecutive start Monday night in a loss at Phoenix and finished with 11 points, a team-high 12 rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 34 minutes.

Achiuwa has now tallied a career-high seven double-doubles this season, including five in the last six games (Jan. 21-30). Over this stretch he is averaging 17.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and is shooting .618 (42-68) from the field. Achiuwa is averaging 16.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and shooting .568 (25-44) from the field in four starts this year overall. The Raptors play at Utah on Wednesday night.