Free-agent forward OG Anunoby will be staying with the New York Knicks, rejoining the team on a new deal worth $212.5 million over five years, per a league source.
Anunoby declined a $19.9 million player option Monday, according to a league source, and officially became an unrestricted free agent on June 30. The Toronto Raptors traded Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to the New York Knicks this season in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a second-round pick.
If the Knicks start Anunoby at his lowest possible starting salary to save room under the hard cap next season, this is what a 5-yr, $212.5M contract would look like:
2024-24: $36.6M
2025-26: $39.6M
2026-27: $42.5M
2027-28: $45.4M
2028-29: $48.3M— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) June 26, 2024
New York went 20-3 with Anunoby in the lineup during the regular season. It was a whopping 22.8 points per 100 possessions better when he was on the court.
There aren’t many who fit Anunoby’s archetype, free agent or not. Anunoby is one of the NBA’s most versatile defenders. In an age of “position-less” basketball, plenty of guys can switch onto guards through centers, but not many can start on anyone from Jamal Murray to Nikola Jokić. Anunoby is one of the few.
Anunoby averaged 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on 48.9 percent shooting from the floor. He missed 32 games during the regular season due to an elbow injury that needed surgery. During New York’s second-round series against the Indiana Pacers, Anunoby sustained a hamstring injury in Game 2, forcing him to miss Games 3 through 6. Anunoby played five minutes of Game 7 before the Knicks lost 130-109 to the Pacers.
This story will be updated.
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(Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
