All-Defensive Second Team F floated as midseason Boston Celtics trade target

The Toronto Raptors All-Defensive Second Team forward, OG Anunoby, could be a midseason trade target for the Boston Celtics according to MassLive’s Brian Robb — who said as much while answering a Celtics Mailbag reader’s question about potential tankers that could become sellers by the trade deadline.

“When it comes to picking a team to fill that void, I think there are a few middle-of-the-road squads that could try to blow it up this year if things don’t start well,” Robb prefaced before saying, “Toronto (OG Anunoby?) would have a lot of intriguing pieces. The same goes for teams like the Bulls, Nets, or any middling Western Conference team. A lot of these teams are in win-now mode but that could change in a hurry and the Celtics are positioned to be players in trade talks with a host of draft assets along with some movable contracts.”

Anunoby owns a player option for the 2024-25 season at $19 million, which is presumably far less than what he’d receive on the open market. Ipso facto, the Indiana product could be entering a contract year; meaning he could be motivated to put up career-best numbers before a potentially lucrative 2024 offseason.

OG Anunoby would be a perfect addition if Boston Celtics lineup experiment works

Jayson Tatum at the PG spot could be a lineup variation making a debut during the 2023-24 season with the C’s backcourt depth compromised by swapping out Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis. If Tatum works out at the 1, that could open up the team trading out a seemingly disgruntled Malcolm Brogdon for the 3-and-D Anunoby to give Boston by far the most talented wing rotation in the NBA.

There’s no guarantee that Tatum will excel in an expanded facilitator role, though it should be noted his assist totals have steadily climbed to 4.6 from 1.6 during his rookie season.

Pray for the rest of the league if this experiment works out. What a mismatch at point guard that would be.