Touted by Toronto Raptors fans as one of the steals of the 2017 NBA Draft, OG Anunoby has some high expectations to meet. Here are five reasons why their excitement about Anunoby is fully warranted.
In the wake of the 2017 NBA Draft, I gave the Toronto Raptors an A for their selection of OG Anunoby out of Indiana University with pick No. 23. Maybe that grade was a knee-jerk reaction to a possible lottery talent falling into Toronto’s lap, but even with a level head, Anunoby remains an excellent choice.
By now, Raptors fans know roughly what the teenager brings to the table. He’s an athletic specimen blessed with ridiculously long arms and great defensive instincts. He’s a potential stopper at the next level.
But defensive ability alone isn’t the reason general manager Masai Ujiri signed off on Anunoby. If you dig even slightly deeper, you’ll uncover a whole host of factors that likely played into the decision.
Before succumbing to an ACL injury last season, Anunoby averaged 17.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per 40 minutes, while shooting a fiery 70.1 percent from two-point range. He needs to refine his shot, but he at least has experience taking threes (2.8 per game) and making a not-insignificant amount (31.1 percent).
Here, I lay out five reasons Anunoby was the correct pick – some mentioned already, some more subtle. He’ll have to prove us right on the court, but for now, it’s safe to feel excited about Anunoby. From team needs to skill-set to upside, the kid seems perfect for the Toronto Raptors.
5. Trade value
Yes, Toronto drafted Anunoby literally five days ago. But in the cutthroat NBA, where front offices move players around ruthlessly in search of their ideal team, that fact means nothing.
Anunoby is on the Raptors now, but there’s no guarantee he’ll be on the Raptors at the end of his rookie contract. If a win-now player becomes available and Ujiri wants to pounce, a young player like Anunoby is a clear trade candidate.
Luckily, he’s a highly adaptable prospect, which increases both his trade value and his trade market. Anunoby can play as a 3 or a 4, but may also be able to guard 2s and 5s for extended minutes. Defensively, he can hold up in any lineup.
That’s not the case with many players, especially youngsters. Single-position big men like John Collins and Tony Bradley can only be used in so many lineup combinations, and very few teams need big men anyways. The same goes for a point guard like Jawun Evans or a single-position 2-guard like Luke Kennard.
Anunoby, by contrast, is the type of versatile forward every team always needs. Even if he doesn’t perform right away, his market should be strong because of his skill-set and pre-draft reputation. As prospective trade partners will know, OG Anunobys don’t grow on trees.