One player the Thunder should target on each team in the Atlantic Division

Toronto Raptors: OG Anunoby

OG Anunoby spent almost all of 2023 in trade rumors. One team was rumored to have offered three first-round picks for the young forward. For good reason. Anunoby is one of the best, most versatile defenders in the NBA. He is a knockdown three-point shooter. He’s hit at least 40 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes at a high volume the past three seasons.

This OKC Thunder, who finished fourth in the league in steals per game, would add the NBA’s reigning steals champion. Anunoby has the size and strength to play power forward to buy into the Thunder’s goal of unique versatility. He’s one of the few defenders in the league who excels on the perimeter and in the post. When the Raptors play the Nuggets, he often guards Nikola Jokic in the post and does an honorable job.

Typically, with great shooters or great defenders, teams deal with trade-offs. Elite perimeter defense often comes at the cost of shooting, and elite shooting often comes at the expense of perimeter defense.

With Anunoby, there is no trade-off; he produces on both ends of the floor. That’s why he’s one of the premier 3-and-D wings in the NBA. That is why so many teams were hunting him at the 2023 trade deadline.

He would be the final piece to OKC’s rotational puzzle. He’d replace Lu Dort in the starting lineup, subtracting little-to-nothing from the OKC Thunder’s defense while adding consistent shooting. A starting five of Josh Giddey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, OG Anunoby, and Chet Holmgren could make the Bricktown boys perennial title contenders. The Raptors defensive ace should be the OKC Thunder’s primary target in 2024.