Toronto trading OG Anunoby wasn't a shock, there have been rumors for over a year and many other teams interested.
The surprise, however, was the timing of that deal on December 30th and the haul the Raptors got in return. After what seemed like years of indecision, the Raptors made a move and the Knicks paid a premium for a player with an expiring contract.
Who won and who lost this trade? Let's break it all down.
That starts with the details of the trade itself:
New York receives: OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, Malachi Flynn
Toronto receives: Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, 2024 second-round pick (via Detroit, likely pick 31 or 32)
(In addition, both teams have generated small trade exceptions.)
Winner: OG Anunoby
Anunoby would get paid no matter what happened. He's a free agent (he's forgoing the $19.9 million he's due next season because he's worth at least $12 million more per year on the open market) and there were teams lining up to pay him.
Instead, Anunuby is a winner in this trade based on his odds. He wasn't a perfect fit for the Raptors, his usage rate dwindling each season as Scottie Barnes took on a larger role (as he should have, Anunoby is brilliant with the ball) but never became the shot artist the Raptors were hoping for ). With Pascal Siakam on the ball, Anunoby came under pressure in Toronto.
He will fit better in the Knicks' offense, where his shots are needed and next to Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle (the offense will run through them) he won't be asked to create many shots. Anunoby will get more exposure and that will be good for his career – and his next paycheck.
Loud winner: New York Knicks
New York didn't lose this trade – they got the best player in the trade. Anunoby is a quality on-ball defender, works well off the ball on the wing, is a more efficient shooter than Barrett and should fit like a puzzle piece next to Brunson. In an Eastern Conference where the Knicks face a combination of Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, Tyrese Maxey, Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell (among others) in the playoffs, Anunoby's defense matters.
Plus, the Knicks kept their powder dry by not even giving up a first-round pick – if a superstar actually becomes available via trade this summer (or whenever), they'll still be at the center with a strong offer.
However, it hurts to give up on Quickley – it's not radical to think he'll be the best player in the profession in three years. Would it have been better for New York to send Barrett and a first-round pick (plus salary filler) for Anunoby and keep Quickley? Would Toronto have even done this?
Even with the addition of Achiuwa (and perhaps Flynn if he can crack the rotation), the Knicks bench only got worse. Much more now falls on Quentin Grimes and Josh Hart.
Winner: Immanuel Quickley
Like many around the league, Quickley seemed surprised by the trade.
As mentioned above, OG Anunoby is the best player in the business today. It's not ridiculous to say that we would be answering this question in a few seasons with Immanuel Quickley.
For reasons that frustrated and confused Knicks fans, Tom Thibodeau never seemed to fully trust Quickley. It's not that Thibs buried him deep on the bench, but Quickley deserved more run than he got while the New York coach trusted Barrett, especially in crucial game time.
Now Quickley is on the verge of getting the most run he can handle, and for those who think the Knicks overpaid in this deal, that's essentially a belief in Quickley. An opportunity presents itself for the guard.
Loser: Knicks fans
Quickley was a fan favorite – it's easy to identify with and root for the overlooked, underused guy. Now Knicks fans will watch him go to Toronto, to a roster that needs his exact skill set, and see him flourish. This will be a punch in the gut, especially as his game continues to develop.
Losers: 76ers, Pistons, any other team considering Anunoby as a free agent target
The free agent class (or potential trade class) is getting smaller and smaller this offseason. There was a time when teams were hoping that Giannis Antetokounmpo might be available (he extended with the Bucks) or perhaps Joel Embiid (he seems happy right now). Then there was the potential free agent category, and Anunoby was at or near the top of teams' lists. I might as well paint it now. Without assurances from Anunoby and his camp that he would re-sign in New York, it's impossible for the Knicks to dump all of these assets to Toronto (although there are rumors that it could potentially be at a discount, we will believe when we see it). ).
Winner: Toronto Raptors
It's not about the details of this trade; It's that they've finally chosen a direction. There seems to be a plan. After letting Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet walk free, after focusing too long on a three-forward rotation that wasn't working, and with a 12-20 team in need of a new direction, the Raptors settled on one. That is a beginning.
It is not yet clear whether they won this particular trade. It's too early to judge Toronto because: 1) it depends on how Quickley develops; 2) This is not a standalone trade – the Raptors have made it clear that they are retooling and this will be Scottie Barnes' team. That means Pascal Siakam will be on the move. What they get in this eventual trade completes this deal.
Still, a path forward can be seen for Toronto: start Quickley in the spot next to Barnes (which means moving Dennis Schroder to the bench), with Barrett at the three and – for now – Siakam at the four, with Jakob Poeltl at the Bench the five and suddenly this is a pretty good team that fits together better than what we saw in Toronto this season. Quickley and Barnes should thrive alongside each other.
Plus, getting Detroit's second-rounder, who is essentially a late first-round pick, is a good win for Toronto.
Winner: CAA conspiracy theorist
Leon Rose left his job as president of energy agency CAA to become president of the Knicks. He has since hired CAA representative Thibodeau and brought in a CAA player, Jalen Brunson, as a free agent. Now he has to sign a new contract with Anunoby this season and… you guessed it, he's a CAA customer.