>
NBA Trade Deadline 2023: Suns ‘target Raptors guard Fred VanVleet as possible successor to Chris Paul and Toronto offered THREE first-round picks for OG Anunoby while Wizards take Kyle Kuzma off market’
The path to an NBA title could go through Toronto, not that the 11th-ranked Raptors have much of a chance on the hardware.
Instead, the Raptors are at the center of multiple trade rumors, which may prove important as the NBA’s February 9 deadline approaches.
NBA Veteran Scribe Marc Stein reports that The Phoenix Suns have targeted Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet as a potential replacement for 37-year-old point guard Chris Paul, while Bruce Arthur of Toronto Star reports that team president Masai Ujiri has been offered three first-round picks for versatile forward OG Anunoby.
Veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reports that the Phoenix Suns have targeted Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet as a potential replacement for 37-year-old point guard Chris Paul, while Toronto Star’s Bruce Arthur reports that team president Masai Ujiri has been offered first three. round picks for versatile striker OG Anunoby
VanVleet may opt for free agency this summer, so it’s unlikely the Suns will make Ujiri a tempting offer without some assurance that he’ll sign in Phoenix long-term.
Stein also reports that the Suns are eyeing other speedy guards, such as Charlotte’s Terry Rozier and New York’s Immanuel Quickley, though the latter is said to be “off the table.”
VanVleet is a 28-year-old combo guard, who stands just 6-foot-1, but has a scoring hit, averaging 19.1 points per game this season and 14.2 for his career.
Meanwhile, Anunoby is averaging 17.4 points per game and grabbing nearly 5.7 rebounds per night.
Raptors executive Masai Ujiri (left) was offered three first-round options for OG Anunoby (not shown)
Chris Paul, 37, won’t be playing for many more years, so the Phoenix Suns are making plans for his eventual successor at point guard.
While trade rumors are circulating in Toronto, they are beginning to dissipate in Washington after the Wizards traded forward Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kendruck Nunn and three second-round picks. While many expected Kyle Kuzma to follow Hachimura out of the Washington gate, yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fisher now reports that the Wizards have told interested teams that they will not part with the 6-foot-9 forward.
The Atlanta Hawks and Suns were reportedly interested.
Kuzma is expected to decline his $13 million player option next season.
The Suns rank seventh in the West with a 24-24 mark, while ranking 20th in the NBA in scoring and 22nd in field goal percentage.
While trade rumors are circulating in Toronto, they are beginning to dissipate in Washington after the Wizards traded forward Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kendruck Nunn and three second-round picks. While many expected Kyle Kuzma to follow Hachimura in Washington, Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer is now reporting that the Wizards have told interested teams that they will not part with the 6-foot-9 forward.