Latest Reports Suggest Raptors Are In a Complicated Situation with O.G. Anunoby

The Toronto Raptors are in a difficult situation when it comes to O.G. Anunoby's contract and what the future may hold for the 26-year-old forward

The Toronto Raptors are in a bit of an awkward situation when it comes to O.G. Anunoby and what the next year may bring.

What’s been made clear so far is that Toronto’s 26-year-old All-Defense-caliber wing is coveted around the league. At least one team offered multiple first-round pick for Anunoby, though those picks weren’t believed to be of significant value, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

At this point, it seems as though the Raptors are content to enter the season with Anunoby as a focal point of their future. But there’s an issue.

Toronto can only offer Anunoby an extension worth roughly $117 million over four years. He could easily surpass that number in free agency should he stay healthy and perform at or near where he has throughout his career. Considering the kind of contracts that were doled out this past summer, including a $160 million over five years to Jerami Grant, it’s become increasingly clear that Anunoby is heading to unrestricted free agency next offseason.

By now, the Raptors should have learned their lesson: Anything can happen in free agency. While Anunoby isn’t considered a max contract kind of player, it’s entirely possible a rival team gets desperate and has the cap space to offer him an extremely lucrative deal.

Take, for example, the Fred VanVleet situation. Nobody considered VanVleet a max contract kind of player until he was suddenly signing a max contract offer to leave the Raptors and head to Houston.

Toronto can, in theory, avoid a crisis by just offering Anunoby a max contract of their own but, like in the VanVleet scenario, the Raptors may feel that’s too much money to commit to a player who probably doesn’t warrant a 30% max contract.

The Raptors have made it clear their preference isn’t to make mid-season trades. As team president Masai Ujiri said after the trade deadline, the offseason has 29 losers and 29 teams looking to get better and it would be shocking if Toronto deviated from that stance and moved Anunoby at the deadline.

The Raptors seem content to let the chips fall where they may. Anunoby appears destined to start the season in Toronto but what that means for next summer is anyone’s guess. 

Further Reading

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