Knicks reportedly trade for OG Anunoby sending Barrett, Quickley, second-round pick to Raptors

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Toronto Raptors v Philadelphia 76ers

The New York Knicks have been looking for a talent upgrade and an elite wing to put next to Jalen Brunson. The Toronto Raptors needed to do something because two of its stars — OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam — are set to be free agents who could walk away at the end of this season.

The two sides found each other in a massive trade that will send Anunoby to New York in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a second-round pick, a story broken by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and confirmed a minute later by Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The Knicks have had interest in Anunoby for more than a year — as has much of the league, seeing a young and All-Star level two-way wing — and dangled Barrett to try and entice a trade last offseason, but the Raptors did not bite at the time. That may have worked for Toronto, who now have Barrett to slide into Anunoby’s wing slot plus get a Sixth Man of the Year but still underutilized player in Quickley to take over at the point next to the shot creator the Raptors want to rebuild around in Scottie Barnes.

Anunoby has a player option on his $19.9 million contract for next season and will use it because he is worth at least $10 million more a season on the open market. The Knicks front office would not have made this trade without some off-the-record, wink-and-a-handshake agreement from Anunoby’s camp that he would re-sign in New York next summer (Anunoby cannot be extended at his market value under the terms of the CBA, he will become a free agent then sign).

Here are some quick thoughts on this trade.

• That is a massive haul for an expiring contract, another sign that there is some kind of expectation and understanding that Anunoby will be a Knick for more than half a season.

• New York gets an upgrade on the wing, a more efficient shooter and scorer who, more importantly, is an elite on-ball defender to match up against players such as Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell and Tyrese Maxey in the East playoffs.

• Are the Pistons winners here? Desperate for a win, they face a Raptors team Saturday night on a back-to-back (and third…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/knicks-reportedly-trade-og-anunoby-181654645.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2023-12-30 18:16:54

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