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Potential Blockbuster Grizzlies-Raptors Trade Fell Through

The Memphis Grizzlies were very interested in Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby
Potential Blockbuster Grizzlies-Raptors Trade Fell Through
Potential Blockbuster Grizzlies-Raptors Trade Fell Through

During a recent episode of The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN's Tim MacMahon revealed the Memphis Grizzlies were very interested in trading for Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby, but a potential deal fell through when Memphis pivoted to other trades.

"When you talk about a case of waiting too long, I think Anunoby very well could end up being something like that," MacMahon said. "There was a lot of talk about Anunoby getting traded, but I don't believe there were a lot of trade discussions involving him last year. I know for example that the Memphis Grizzlies had high, high interest and I don't know exactly what they would have given up, but there were talks for Mikal Bridges and they put four first-round picks on the table there."

Using the Bridges example, MacMahon believes Memphis would have offered multiple first-round picks for Anunoby. Suggesting that the Raptors may be entering a situation where they've waited too long to deal Anunoby, MacMahon explained how a potential deal with the Grizzlies fell through 

"It's an example of here's a potential trade partner that was willing to pay premium, and the likelihood of that being a potential trade partner has diminished significantly over the summer," MacMahon said. "Just because of the business the Grizzles did over the summer and the trade-able contracts that are no longer there and the picks that are no longer there."

While MacMahon doesn't believe there was any major traction between the Grizzlies and Raptors because of Toronto's hesitancy to rebuild, his understanding is that Memphis was very interested in making this blockbuster deal, but it has now fallen through with Memphis using their assets elsewhere.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.