NBA Rumors: Canadian Rookie Shaedon Sharpe Linked To Raptors In Trade Scenario

On Draft Day, 2022, last June 30th, the Portland Trail Blazers, as the story goes, are said to have offered the No. 7 overall pick in the draft to the Toronto Raptors for OG Anunoby. The latest rumor has them ready to re-visit that scenario, with the result of that No. 7 pick, Canadian-born Shaedon Sharpe.

The Trail Blazers are desperate to add more winning pieces around franchise player Damian Lillard.

On his Hoops Collective podcast, ESPN's Brian Windhorst told us:

Portland is absolutely in a buying mode. They are attempting to add pieces, I’ve heard them attached to some kind of role-playing bench players. But if Anunoby became available, I think they would be very interested and you’d probably start an offer there with Shaedon Sharpe, their lottery pick that they got out of Kentucky.

“If Anunoby became available, I think they would be very interested. You would probably start an offer there with Shaedon Sharpe.”

- ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on the Blazers

(h/t @WireHoops ) pic.twitter.com/ggsNRBWs19

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) February 3, 2023

Fellow Insider Tim MacMahon chimed in, singing the 19-year-old rookie's praises: "That’s a pretty attractive chip to start with. You might be trading a guy who ends up playing in multiple All-Star games, he has that kind of talent. It’s projection and potential, but he is awfully talented."

And Tim Bontemps confirmed that "that again is the kind of premium piece that I think if you see OG get traded, those are I think the kind of pieces that you’re talking about."

Sharpe was born just two hours from Toronto, and it would be an intriguing homecoming for the burgeoning rookie. He's playing about 20 minutes per game thus far for the Blazers, and has averaged 7.6 points on 34.6% shooting from three, along with 2.4 rebounds.

Anunoby, still only 25, is one of the top trade chips on the market as we approach this Thursday's trade deadline. The 3-and-D power plug is averaging 16.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and is tied for the league-lead in steals at 2.1 per game, and in deflections, at 3.9.

Photo: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports