NBA Executives Believe O.G. Anunoby Trade with Raptors Could Be Targeted by Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are in win-now mode with one of the best rosters in the NBA, and they reportedly have their eyes on Toronto Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby.

"There's been some speculation from a few rival executives that the Memphis Grizzlies could make a run at Anunoby given their surplus of draft picks in the years to come," Michael Scotto reported Tuesday on the HoopsHype Podcast.

Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star reported last week that a team offered the Raptors three first-round draft picks for Anunoby.

The Indiana product is averaging 16.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, a league-best 2.1 steals and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from three-point range this season. This marks the fourth consecutive season he has averaged double digits in points, which makes him all the more valuable because of his impact on the defensive side.

Opponents are shooting 3.8 percentage points worse from the field than normal when Anunoby defends them, per NBA.com.

That skill set would fit perfectly with the Grizzlies, who are second in the league in defensive rating, per NBA.com, and are known for their ability to mix and match while getting physical on that end of the floor.

Anunoby is versatile enough to guard ball-handlers and bigger forwards, so he could take pressure off multiple players. If Memphis paired him and Dillon Brooks to swarm opponents, it would surely be daunting for the Western Conference.

Yet Toronto would have to decide it is going to deal Anunoby.

The Raptors are 23-29 and 1.5 games out of the final spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. Anunoby is also under contract for $18.6 million next season with a $19.9 million player option for 2024-25, so the team could view him as a valuable asset to keep even if it focuses on the future instead of trying to turn things around in 2022-23.

If Toronto looks for a trade, though, Memphis may be the landing spot for the versatile playmaker.