5 NBA players who might be preparing to demand a trade in 2022-23
2. Caris LeVert can’t co-exist with Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t unload all of those draft picks and young talent for nothing. Donovan Mitchell is the featured talent on this team and will be getting all the opportunities to be on the court and stay on the court at the shooting guard spot — a position previously occupied by Caris LeVert.
This means LeVert, a starting-level talent in the NBA, is likely to be tasked with a vastly reduced role on the team in 2022-23. It might not be something LeVert is interested in doing in his age 28 season.
Cleveland needs some additional depth on its roster and using LeVert as a trade chip could result in a happy outcome for both sides. LeVert would be welcomed as a starter on several NBA teams or as a No. 1 option off the bench at the right price.
Ideal destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies
OG
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 6, 2021
OH MY pic.twitter.com/pnAy0RasOm
3. OG Anunoby may desire a bigger role with a new NBA team
We heard rumblings earlier in the offseason that Anunoby had grown tired of his role with the Toronto Raptors. Similarly to the Cavaliers, the Raptors are thin on depth right now and trading OG Anunoby could bring in a decent haul to stock the bench with considerable talent.
If he truly is dissatisfied with his role on the team in taking a backseat to Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, and Fred VanVleet on offense, there are ample NBA teams who would be willing to bring him on and catapult themselves from a play-in team to a home-court advantage team in the playoffs.
Of Toronto’s six most effective lineups last season (in terms of plus/minus), Anunoby was only in one of those lineups. So, it’s understandable that the Raptors have shied away from