Did Golden State Warriors miss an opportunity not trading for Toronto Raptors' wing?

The Golden State Warriors made a blockbuster trade in the offseason, dealing young guard Jordan Poole as part of a package for 12-time All-Star Chris Paul. Was the veteran point-guard the right player to target though?

The simple Poole-for-Paul swap should be a considered a success thus far -- Poole has largely struggled under more responsibility in Washington, while Paul has brought consistency and steadiness to Golden State. Regardless, the Warriors are 8-10 and in a spot of bother.

Did the Golden State Warriors miss an opportunity by not trading for Toronto Raptors' forward O.G. Anunoby during the offseason?

In an article looking at 'NBA Trades That Should've Happened In July', Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley contemplates whether the Warriors could or should have traded for O.G. Anunoby instead.

Buckley believes it still should happen, proposing a deal that sees the Warriors receive Anunoby and former Warriors Otto Porter Jr. and Chris Boucher for Paul, Jonathan Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and first-round picks in 2026 and 2028.

""They still could do this deal now, but they've already put themselves into a 7-9 (now 8-10) hole. Maybe things would've played out differently had they found a top-tier two-way wing like Anunoby, plus usable depth pieces up front in Boucher and Porter (both of whom have passed through Golden State before)," Buckley wrote."

The Warriors could have certainly done with greater production from the wing positions this season, but they weren't to know that Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins would struggle like they have. There's also the consideration of where Golden State would be without Paul and his insanely good assist-to-turnover ratio.

Anunoby has averaged 14.9 points and 4.1 rebounds so far this season, the least he's averaged in each category over the last four years. He is proving more efficient though, shooting the ball at 47.5% from the floor and 41.5% from three on 6.3 attempts per game.

Would the Warriors make this trade right now? It would be hard to see them moving Paul when he isn't the issue, while they would probably prefer not to trade the talent of Jackson-Davis and particularly Kuminga for a player who can become a free agent during the offseason.

Golden State had interest in Anunoby in the hours before February's mid-season trade deadline, but were ultimately unwilling to meet Toronto's demands. Could things be different for both sides this time around?