NEWSLETTER
The Knicks aren’t done yet!
Less than 24 hours after adding Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets for a haul of picks, New York has extended OG Anunoby with a five-year, $212.5 million contract that includes a player option for the fifth year, as well as a trade kicker. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news this afternoon.
OG Anunoby Staying In New York
Anunoby staying in New York is a huge deal for the Knicks and the Eastern Conference as a whole. Him hanging around along with the addition of Bridges lines them up to be the top challengers to the defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, Anunoby would have garnered max offers in free agency but opted to stick with New York because he wanted to help build a true contender.
Last season, the Knicks acquired Anunoby from the Raptors in exchange for a return headlined by RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. While Anunoby did suffer some injuries down the stretch, New York went 20-3 with him in the lineup in the regular season. He averaged 14 points and 4 rebounds per game while shooting 47.4% from the field and 39.4% from deep in those 23 games.
When healthy, the Knicks are a dangerous threat to Boston in the East. However, Tom Thibodeau has always worked his players hard and his teams usually have health issues come playoff time. The hope will be that the Knicks have built up enough depth to withstand a few bumps and bruises and then put it all together in the postseason. Bringing back Anunoby certainly helps them get closer to that point.
This move likely takes them out of the running to bring back Isaiah Hartenstein, but they can address the center position in the draft still.
