Knicks acquire OG Anunoby from Raptors for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, 2024 second-round pick
The Knicks have acquired OG Anunoby, Malachi Flynn and Precious Achiuwa from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 second-round draft pick.
New York has been pursuing Anunoby since last season's trade deadline when they offered numerous first-round picks in a package, and now, just a few months later, they land the 26-year-old small forward.
Anunoby spent the first six seasons of his career in Toronto and he's only gotten better over the years. The three-and-D wing is averaging 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 39 percent from behind the arc so far this season.
He could hit free agency at the end of this season but does hold a player option for next year, so the Knicks will be able to get a head start on trying to keep him around long-term.
Both Achiuwa and Flynn figure to see time off the bench for Tom Thibodeau's squad.
Achiuwa, a former first-round pick, is a 24-year-old center who is averaging 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 18 minutes of action this season. He figures to slot into the backup center role with Mitchell Robinson likely to miss the remainder of the season and youngster Jericho Sims still sidelined.
Flynn hasn't been able to find consistent playing time of late in Toronto and has struggled as a result, averaging just 4.6 points in December.
In exchange, the Knicks are parting ways with two key parts of their young core in Barrett and Quickley.
New York selected Barrett with the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and the 23-year-old small forward showed flashes during his time in the Big Apple, but he never quite reached his full potential.
Barrett enjoyed a strong summer showing with Team Canada but has put together an up-and-down start to the season after dealing with migraines earlier this month. He now returns north of the border averaging 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 26 games.
Quickley, on the other hand, is in the midst of a breakout campaign after being named the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year last season. He's averaging 15.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists across 30 games.
After failing to reach a long-term extension this offseason, though, the impending restricted free agent has been viewed as a potential trade candidate and now he's headed to Toronto.
New York is also waiving shooting guard Daquan Jeffries, who was on a non-guaranteed contract, to make room on their roster.
