Emerging Western Conference team ‘actively pursuing’ former Indiana basketball standout OG Anunoby

It was another terrific season for former Indiana basketball forward OG Anunoby in his sixth year and he continues to be rumored as a potential trade target around the league.

Anunoby averaged 16.8 points — slightly lower than his 17.1 a game last year — but his efficiency was up drastically. He shot 47.6 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three. He also added 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

His defensive play earned him a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He was considered the fourth-best forward, earning 81 vote points.

Over the last two years, Anunoby has turned himself into one of the best defensive wings in addition to an ever-increasing offensive talent.

Now, a major player in the Western Conference is eyeing the former Indiana basketball standout.

According to Damien Barling of ESPN 1320 and D-Lo & KC Radio in Sacramento, the Kings are ‘actively pursuing’ Anunoby.

After having some interest in Anunoby at the deadline, the Kings decided to hold off on any trade. Now, it appears that could be back on the table in a significant way.

The Kings hold the No. 24 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft as well as a few young potential trade pieces on the roster.

Last season, Keegan Murray — former Iowa star — was selected with the No. 4 overall pick. He was the starting wing for the Kings and averaged 12.2 points and shot 41.1 percent from three as a rookie. Those numbers did drop slightly in the playoffs.

Veteran wing Harrison Barnes is an upcoming unrestricted free agent as well. What the Kings do with Barnes will likely say a lot about a potential Anunoby trade as well.

The Kings returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 this year, securing the 3-seed in the West. The nearly 20-year streak without a playoff appearance was the longest in NBA history.

For the Toronto Raptors, they finished the season 41-41 and lost to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA’s Play-in Tournament. Following the season, the Raptors fired head coach Nick Nurse.

With the Raptors looking to be in somewhat of a rebuild mode, it is more than likely that Anunoby is moved sometime before the start of the season.

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