December 5, 2024

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Sources say Knicks will get OG Anunoby from Raptors, RJ Barrett deal

Sources say Knicks will get OG Anunoby from Raptors, RJ Barrett deal

The New York Knicks have acquired forward OG Anunoby in a deal that sends RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round pick to the Toronto Raptors, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

The Knicks, who also offer forward Precious Achiuwa and guard Malachi Flynn in the deal, have been pursuing Anunoby for an extended period of time and are determined to re-sign him as a free agent this summer, sources said.

Anunoby, 26, has been one of the most sought-after trade assets in the league over the past two years, and now the Knicks are getting the chance to trade him to a receiver in New York ahead of his free agency. The Knicks were a firm believer that Anunoby would fit well into their lineup with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.

New York, which sits at 17-14 and seventh in the Eastern Conference, holds significant assets to make more impactful trades in the weeks and months ahead.

Anunoby averaged 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game this season. He ranked second in defensive plays in the halfcourt against the All-Stars last year, trailing only Brooklyn's Mikal Bridges, according to ESPN Stats & Information data. Anunoby has averaged 1.7 steals per game over the past two years, third-most in the NBA.

Raptors (12-19) bring back Barrett from Canada; Quickley, a highly-scored bench guard; and a 2024 second-round pick via the Detroit Pistons. Barrett, the No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft, is averaging 18.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season. Quickley is averaging career highs in points (15.0), field goal percentage (45.4) and 3-point field goal percentage (39.5) this season.

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Quickley, who finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season, ranks in the top five in total points and plus-minus off the bench this season, according to ESPN Stats & Info research.

Toronto is expected to continue exploring deals involving striker Pascal Siakam, but there are no solid deals in place right now, sources said. Both Siakam and Anunoby could become free agents this summer.

The trade is the first between the two teams since 2013 and comes amid an ongoing legal dispute between the franchises. The Knicks filed a lawsuit against the Raptors and members of the organization in August over allegations that a former Knicks employee sent confidential files to the Raptors upon his departure. The sources said that there was no change in the status of the case despite the trade.