While it was another title-less season for the New York Knicks, it was also their most successful one in 25 years. Ultimately the team was undone by injuries, but with everybody back and healthy, hopes are high that next season may turn out differently. A big question, however, is whether that “everybody” will include impending free agent OG Anunoby.
There was a lot of fanfare around Anunoby’s acquisition from the Toronto Raptors in January, but nobody knew just how impactful this “3-and-D” guy would be. When the swingman played, the Knicks were a staggering 26-6 combined in the regular and postseason. While he didn’t always stuff a stat sheet, his hustle and intangibles often made a huge difference.
Speculation has it that Anunoby could be looking for a new contract around $150 for four years. But, that may just be the opening gambit, as he might be seeking something much more lucrative, perhaps as high as $245 million for five years.
Signing a player who has helped the team to win over 80% of their games when he plays is a no-brainer. The problem for the Knicks, however, is that they may not be fully confident that they can rely on Anunoby. He missed a significant amount of time during the regular season with an elbow injury and it was a hamstring issue which eventually knocked him out of the second-round series with the Pacers.
If the Knicks do balk at Anunoby's asking price or fail to offer him what he wants, there will be no shortage of suitors. Perhaps the leader in the clubhouse right now is the Philadelphia 76ers, who got an up-close look at exactly what Anunoby can do in the postseason.
During their matchup in the first round of the playoffs, Anunoby proved to be quite troublesome for the Sixers. His 7-foot-2 wingspan wrecked havoc and when the Knicks got a stop, he always seemed to be in on the action. Should Philadelphia offer him a significant deal, the catalyst could be New York's closeout game. In it, Anunoby scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds while logging two steals and two blocks. Plus, he did this to put an exclamation mark on the game and the series:
So, would Anunoby leave the Knicks for one of their biggest rivals? A quiet player by nature, he so far hasn’t said anything to indicate where his intentions lie. But, as with most transactions, it will probably come down to money. There is a good chance that the Knicks will see the Sixers in the playoffs again next season, but right now it’s anybody’s guess which side Anunoby will be on.
