Nick Nurse gives thoughts on OG Anunoby trade, possible Sixers upgrades
The first domino of trade season fell on Saturday afternoon when the Toronto Raptors and the New York Knicks combined to make a big deal.
The Raptors sent OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn to the Knicks for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 second-round pick. Anunoby is the big get for New York as he brings an elite 3-and-D ability to the Knicks to fit next to Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson.
Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse has a lot of history with Anunoby from Nurse’s days with the Raptors and he gave his thoughts on the deal.
“I think that—first of all, I obviously know very well most of the guys in it,” Nurse told reporters. “Quickley’s the only guy I haven’t coached pretty closely, but I think there’s a lot of good players changing teams there. I think RJ was amazing to coach for Canada. He’s really a good team player. Kind of complete player. He does a little bit of everything. OG, as I’ve mentioned many times, is as good a defender as there is in this league. You can put him on everybody in every position. So those two guys are switching and hope makes both teams worse (he said as a joke).”
Anunoby is averaging 15.1 points and shooting 37.9% from deep to begin the season. He will make the Knicks a much tougher team to contend with and one has to wonder now if the Sixers need to make an upgrade of their own as they now move forward.
“I think you’ve always got to be in the mindset to upgrade at all times,” Nurse added. “Whether I was coaching the Iowa Energy or coaching the Sixers like there’s always places. Can you improve 10 through 12? Can you prove eight through 10? Can you improve three through five? I think you’re always trying to do that or are you getting assets so you can do something else so I think there’s always that’s what Daryl (Morey) and these guys do every day, right?”
With that being said, the Sixers are still a very good team. Whether they make a move or not, they are going to be in the mix to contend for a championship in the Eastern Conference. Nurse knows that as Philadelphia moves forward.
“I do think that we got guys,” he finished. “We got some experienced guys. We have a lot of experience coming off the bench. I think when we lose a few guys, we’re able to withstand and not have to lose a whole bunch of games in a row or something like that. We can plug away and keep our head above water a little bit. So there is—I’m still trying to figure out half of these guys I got right now so we’re OK.”
