Let’s grade the Knicks-Raptors trade for both sides that sends OG Anunoby to New York.
The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors have completed a blockbuster trade that reinforces the direction of both franchises. The Knicks are acquiring OG Anunoby from Toronto for R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and draft considerations. New York is also getting forward Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn in the deal. The Raptors will acquire the Pistons’ second round pick from New York in the 2024 NBA Draft as part of the deal.
Anunoby has been in trade rumors for multiple seasons, and Toronto finally decided to deal him. The 26-year-old forward is considered one of the best ‘3-and-D’ style wings in the NBA. He’s shooting 37.4 percent from three this year on six attempts per game, and he’s also shooting above 60 percent from two-point range for the first time in his career. Anunoby led the NBA in steals per game a year ago. He will be an unrestricted free agent after this year, where he’ll be expected to sign a huge new contract with the Knicks.
Toronto is getting a strong package back for a player on an expiring deal. Quickley’s ball handling and shooting feels like a great fit for a Raptors roster sorely lacking in both areas. Quickley is also due for a new contract after this season as a restricted free agent. Barrett, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, is a native of Canada, and should be a fan favorite has he returns to his home country. Barrett’s all-around game has been maligned at times, but he’s averaging 18.2 points per game on below average 53.6 percent true shooting.
Let’s grade this trade from both sides.
Knicks grade: B
The Knicks have been star hunting for years to take their team to the next level. Anunoby is more of a star role player than a traditional star who creates offense with the ball in his hands, but he’s sure to command a near max contract when he hits the open market this summer.
Anunoby is a 6’7, 232-pound forward with a 7’2 wingspan who will immediately become the Knicks’ go-to defensive stopper on the perimeter. Anunoby’s defensive metrics have slipped a bit this year — he only ranks in the 82nd percentile of defensive EPM, and his “stocks” (steals + blocks) per 100 possessions have fallen from 3.7 a year ago to 2.7 this year. Still, there’s no doubt that Anunoby is an elite wing defender, and he should be a big help for a team that currently ranks No. 15 in defensive efficiency.
Anunoby’s bread-and-butter offensively is as a catch-and-shoot player. He’s taking more than 50 percent of his field goal attempts from three-point range this year. For made fields, 73 percent of his two-pointers have been assisted, and 95.1 percent of his three-pointers have been assisted. He’ll provided a trusted floor spacer for Jalen Brunson’s on-ball creation, and he’ll need to be quick to shoot when teams send a double at Julius Randle in the post.
The Raptors were 8.6 points per 100 possessions better with Anunoby on the floor this year, the best mark of his career. This is Anunoby’s seventh pro season as the former No. 23 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The Knicks are 17-14 and currently the No. 7 seed in the East at the time of this trade. New York did well to get off R.J. Barrett’s massive contract in this deal as his development as stagnated in recent years, and the front office and coaching staff never seemed to believe in Quickley as much as the fans did. Teams typically want a player who can create more than Anunoby can with the ball in his hands for a near-max contract, which is what he’ll demand after this season, but volume three-point shooting and fantastic defense makes this a decent gamble by the Knicks.
Raptors grade: A-
The Raptors have badly needed a reset trade for at least two years. With Anunoby and Pascal Siakam both heading for unrestricted free agency this summer, the Raptors had to make some tough decisions for a team that just wasn’t good enough. Toronto is 12-19 at the time of this trade and would be outside of the Eastern Conference play-in picture if the season ended today.
This is a strong haul back for Anunoby. Quickley is the headliner. The 24-year-old guard has been an electric bench creator for the Knicks over his four year career, blending volume three-point shooting with the ability to pressure the rim with the ball in his hands with improving perimeter defense. Quickley is hitting 39.5 percent of his threes this season on 11.1 attempts per 100 possessions. His 28.1 percent free throw rate is a strong number that indicates his ability to get into the teeth of the defense. He rates in the 84th percentile offensively and 54th percentile defensively of all players in EPM this year.
Barrett hasn’t developed as well as the Knicks were hoping when they signed him to a four-year, $107 million extension in 2022. The 23-year-old wing struggles to score efficiently, isn’t a plus passer, and isn’t a major threat from three-point range. Barrett’s 92 true shooting plus (where 100 is league average) this season shows a player still learning to pick his spots as a scorer. He’s still a strong driver who is making 75.3 percent of his shots at the rim, per basketball-reference. He feels like a bit of an odd fit on a Toronto roster that needs more shooting, but he’s still a productive young player who could be revitalized by returning to Canada.
Getting the Pistons’ second rounder is also a nice piece of business here by Toronto — which would currently be the No. 31 overall pick as the first selection of the second round.
Toronto got a haul for Anunoby, but the Knicks feel better-suited for the playoffs
The Raptors needed to blow up the roster, and they sold high on Anunoby in this deal. Quickley feels like he could explode in Toronto paired with Scottie Barnes in the two-man game, and his skill set is a perfect fit for what the Raptors need.
The question with the Knicks now is if there’s another big move in store. Anunoby is better as a complementary piece than a main driver of offense, but his skill as a defensive stopper will make him a favorite of head coach Tom Thibodeau. The Knicks will throw Anunoby at Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, and both the perimeter and interior stars on the Bucks and 76ers. This is a nice addition for the Knicks, but they still need more to be a truly elite team in the East.
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