OFFICIAL TRADE

A trade has been finalized involving the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors. The Raptors will receive Immanuel RJ Barret and a 2nd round pick. The Knicks will receive OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn. Earlier this year the Knicks filed a lawsuit against the Raptors due to some alleged tampering of scouting secrets and film from a former employee. Due to this occurrence, most thought that a deal involving these two teams was unlikely.

As a result of the trade the Raptors acquire a young combo guard of the future in Quickley that will fill the void left by Fred VanVleet, who was part of the core that won the NBA Championship in 2019. In addition, they acquire a 23-year-old Toronto native in RJ Barret who has averaged 18 points this year. RJ is a former #3 pick of the New York Knicks, and was the first draft pick to be resigned to a multi-year dear post rookie contract since Charlie Ward in 1998. Overall, this is solid compensation for Anunoby who was seeking a larger role that young wing Scotty Barnes already can account for.

On the other hand, the Knicks can check all the boxes for voids that they currently hold. The Knicks were in major need of an athletic wing that could spread the floor and provide defensive versatility. Anunoby is a 6’7 240 lb. wing that can be a solid 2nd or 3rd option as well as defend every position on the floor, including the opponents #1 option. He will also give coach Tibbs more flexibility with his rotations, enabling OG to play spot minutes at the 4 position while Julius Randle is sitting. With the recent season-ending injury to Mitchell Robinson, along with Jericho Sims also dealing with injuries of his own. The Knicks were very thin at the big man position. The acquisition of Precious Achiuwa will provide New York with some much-needed depth. Although Achiuwa is an undersized Center at 6’8 he can provide New York with some rim protection and explosiveness at the backup position. The final part of the deal include Malachi Flynn who will provide spot minutes at point guard and assist in replacing the void left by Quickley.

QUICKLEY’S CONTRACT

Contractually the Knicks were in a standoff between them and Immanuel Quickley. In the offseason the Knicks extended Josh Hart and signed Donte DiVincenzo. Coupled with the emergence of Brunson as a bona fide starting point guard, the writing was on the wall that they would not come to an agreement on what Quickley was allegedly looking for. The trade will give him an opportunity to showcase his abilities in a more defined and maximized role.

Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett are both young fan favorites who have grown from the grassroots of prior drafts.  Many Knick fans will be skeptical on whether this was a good decision in the present time. But given the inconsistency of RJ and the contract concerns of Quickley this trade may have been too good to pass up. Anunoby is a perfect plug-and-play asset. Being that he is only 26 years old he fits the timeline of the two other star players in Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

PG: Jalen Brunson

SG: Josh Hart

SF: OG Anenobby

PF: Julius Randle

C: Isaiah Hartenstein