OG Anunoby to Suns? Recent Damian Lillard Trade Development Opens Possibility
Just last week, multiple reports from outlets such as PHNX and Arizona Sports suggested the Phoenix Suns could potentially be involved in a massive blockbuster deal involving Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard.
No, Dame Time won't be coming to The Valley, but the Suns could see another talented player landing in Phoenix thanks to their help in facilitating a move for the superstar.
Reports initially suggested that Phoenix could target Jusuf Nurkić from Portland while sending Deandre Ayton to the Blazers, though rumors now are suggesting the Toronto Raptors are heavily in the mix for Lillard.
"I can confirm the Toronto Raptors, per sources, are very much in the mix. Certainly not all the way there and likely not even halfway to getting a deal done, but progress has been made," said Michael Grange from Toronto's SportsNet.
"As for the players the Raptors can or will put in a deal? By process of elimination, it probably would come down to a deal built around OG Anunoby..."
Whether Anunoby ends up back to Portland or elsewhere in a multi-team deal remains to be seen, but the Suns have long held interest in the 26-year-old forward since the trade deadline. Before they dealt the farm for Kevin Durant, NBA insider Shams Charania highlighted Phoenix as a team that was emerging for Anunoby.
Last season, Anunoby played 67 games and averaged 16.8 points (on 47.6% shooting), 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists with 1.9 steals (a career high).
Though Phoenix would be losing their staring center in Ayton, Anunoby would arrive and immediately slide into the missing "fifth starter" spot currently thought to be between Josh Okogie, Keita Bates-Diop, Yuta Watanabe and others.
Anunoby is in the third year of a four-year. $72 million deal he signed with the Raptors. He's set to make $18.642 million next year with a player option for the 2024-25 season worth $19.928 million.
