Jan 8, 2021; Sacramento, California, USA; Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center, NBA Trades, OG Anunoby, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA Trades, OG Anunoby, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA Trades. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
On Wednesday night, the Portland Trail Blazers made the first big splash of this offseason by trading for Jerami Grant. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Portland sent Detroit a 2025 1st -Round pick (via MIL), a second-round pick swap in this year’s draft (36 for 46). Meanwhile, Detroit recovers a 2025 2nd round pick that they had previously sent out to Portland, as well as the most favorable 2026 2nd round pick from either New Orleans or Portland.
It is widely believed that the Blazers will absorb Grant’s contract using the $20.8 million TPE they had from the CJ McCollum trade. This means they will be looking to operate as an over-the-cap team this offseason, allowing them to retain their key free agents (Jusuf Nurkic, Anfernee Simons).
The trade seems like a very solid transaction for the Blazers. They were able to add a very good player at a position that they desperately needed without having to give up much for him. More importantly, they were able to hang on to their first-round pick selection in this year’s draft, which is currently slotted at number seven.
NBA Trades: 3-team trade that lands OG Anunoby on Portland Trail Blazers
A couple of hours later, Yahoo Sports Chris Haynes reported that Portland is in pursuit of Raptors wing OG Anunoby with the seventh pick. Having used their TPE on the Grant trade, Portland will have to send players back to Toronto in order to execute a trade for Anunoby.
This will be a little problematic due to the fact that they don’t have many tradeable contracts. The easiest way to execute such a trade would be to send Josh Hart along with the seventh-overall pick (and possibly more draft compensation) for OG Anunoby.
The problem for Portland in this scenario is that they would be sending back a very good player in Hart who could be very useful in their effort to build a contender around Damian Lillard.
Don’t get me wrong, OG Anunoby is a clear upgrade over Josh Hart. But in an ideal world, the Blazers would like to be able to hold onto him, as putting out a lineup that features Hart, Grant, and Anunoby would be very formidable on both ends of the court, especially on the defensive side, which has been the Blazers Achilles heel during Lillard’s tenure.
Luckily for Portland, there is an avenue where all of this is possible. Getting there though would be more complicated and will probably have to include a third team, however. This route would entail guaranteeing Eric Bledsoe’s contract and trading it as an expiring deal.
Trail Blazers Get
OG Anunoby
Pacers Get
#7 Pick
Eric Bledsoe
A possible framework of a deal could be OG Anunoby to the Blazers, Myles Turner to the Raptors, and the seventh-overall pick to the Pacers. The Raptors are well known to be in the market for a starting-caliber center, and Turner might just be the best fit of all.
On defense, he is one of the best rim protectors in the league, while on offense, he has the ability to stretch the floor. This would bold well in lineups featuring Barnes and Siakam, who aren’t very good shooters and need space so they can attack the rim.
Although the Pacers have the sixth pick in this year’s draft, they are rumored to be interested in Jaden Ivey. Drafting him at six seems very unlikely, as most draft pundits have Ivey being drafted in the top four.
Adding the seventh pick could give the Pacers the necessary ammo to move up in the draft and get their guy. Meanwhile, from Portland’s point of view, adding OG Anunoby without giving up Josh Hart would be nothing short of a home run.
If they pull this off, they would be adding two very good 3&D wings, and for the first time, would be giving Lillard a balanced roster, and would have a chance to make it back to the postseason after missing this year’s playoffs.
