Grading the Knicks’ trade for OG Anunoby with the Raptors

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In an era-defining Saturday transaction, the Knicks traded RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round pick in exchange for OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn. 

This marks the departure of two of the longest-tenured Knicks – both committed, developing young talents – in a consolidation trade for one of the league’s premier 3-and-D wings.

This is undoubtedly the highest-risk play of Leon Rose’s years leading New York, with his two biggest moves to this point being hiring Tom Thibodeau and signing Jalen Brunson. Emotions are sure to be high after a franchise-altering decision of this caliber, and we won’t see the final effects of this deal for years, but for now, let’s do our best to objectively grade this trade for the Knicks.

The good

New York got the best player in this deal in Anunoby. The 26-year-old stands 6-foot-7, 232 pounds and is in the top tier of wing defenders in the league while averaging 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists on 60.8 percent shooting from two and 37.4 percent from three this season.

The counting stats don’t capture his impact sufficiently. He was named to the All-Defensive Second Team last season, leading the NBA in steals and playing a key role in Toronto’s defense hovering between elite and above average the last five seasons.

Nobody can really stop the Jayson Tatums and Jimmy Butlers of the world, but Anunoby is about as good an option you can throw at them without employing a top-five perimeter defender in basketball (which he might be). He’s now arguably the Knicks’ second-most athletic player, and has that Thibs team grit and grind to him.

His offense has also been limited playing with two extremely similar and higher prioritized players this year. Brunson and Julius Randle offer more spacing (mostly the former) and diversity of placement for Anunoby, one of many qualities that make him a terrific fit in New York.

He’ll be a shooting boost over Barrett in the core lineups, with a 38.2 percent average from three over the last five seasons compared to RJ’s 34.2 percent career clip. He’s more efficient in transition and on cuts thanks to…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/grading-knicks-trade-og-anunoby-225859244.html

Author : SNY

Publish date : 2023-12-30 22:58:59

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