Raptors news: Toronto exercises options on OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam

The Toronto Raptors are exercising the options on young super talents and future franchise cores OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam.

Toronto Raptors have decided to exercise their option on 2016 and 2017 first round picks, OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam.

To no surprise, the Raptors have exercised OG Anunoby's 3rd-year option and Pascal Siakam's 4th-year option. Both no-brainers.

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) October 31, 2018

Forward OG Anunoby started a majority of the games last season for the franchise. Unfortunately for OG, the Raptors traded for superstar Kawhi Leonard in the offseason so he lost his starting job. Anuoby has nice range on the floor, possessing a .367 3-point percentage over the course of his career. The former 23rd overall pick in the 2017 draft has averaged 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in his career so far, but he has never had to be the main source of production for Toronto.

Pascal Siakam has been fantastic since debuting in 2016 out of New Mexico State. The 24 year-old from Cameroon has seen his stats improve at steady pace, as well as his minutes total. Siakam has been a pleasant surprise for the Raptors so far this season.

'He’s (@pskills43) unbelievable, honestly, the things he’s doing and the things he can do on that basketball floor." – @Klow7

📺 | https://t.co/U1A3E2qYCk https://t.co/wiq9sKApjc

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 31, 2018

Siakam has averaged 10.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals in eight games this season. Given that Siakam has started nearly every game for the Raptors this season, he is finally being given a solid amount of minutes and making the most of them.

The Toronto Raptors are playing very efficient basketball this season. They put on a clinic Tuesday against the highly-talented Philadelphia 76ers, winning 129-112. Toronto now carry a 7-1 record into their next matchup on Friday night against the Phoenix Suns.

The Raptors are amongst the top half of the league in most defensive efficiency categories this season as well. They are 11th in the league in defensive rating (106.6), 8th in defensive rebounds (36.5), and 9th in the league for opponents points off turnovers (15.4).

Toronto is also third on the list for offensive rating this season (114. 4), sixth in the league for effective field goal percentage (54.5), and sixth in assist to turnover ratio (1.85). The Raptors are feeling it this season and have the roster to achieve success down the road.