While Sam Vecenie of The Athletic recently said he views the Knicks/Raptors trade as the “Immanuel Quickley trade” rather than the “OG Anunoby trade,” he likes what Anunoby will bring to New York.
According to Vecenie, Anunoby is one of a select few players who can credibly defend all five positions on the court. That defensive versatility, plus his ability to convert threes and make timely cuts, has made Anunoby a “great role player.” The question is if he can develop more on offense, Vecenie writes.
As Vecenie details, while Anunoby has an impressive physical profile and uses it very effectively on defense, he can look a little awkward on offense when given on-ball opportunities, as he doesn’t finish well in the paint and doesn’t have a reliable pull-up jump shot.
Still, Vecenie believes Anunoby has the potential to be “the third-best player on a title team” if he’s in the right situation, and there’s a reason so many teams wanted him. Vecenie also examines what Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn will bring to New York.
Here’s more from the two New York-based teams:
- On Run It Back (Twitter video link), Shams Charania of The Athletic suggested the Knicks will “always” have interest in Karl-Anthony Towns, who presumably won’t be going anywhere this season, as Minnesota has the best record in the Western Conference. Towns’ former agent is Leon Rose, New York’s current president of basketball operations.
- Even after dealing away Quickley, RJ Barrett and the Pistons’ 2024 second-rounder, there are people within the Knicks who think they have the requisite remaining assets to land a star player, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv. As Begley writes, the Knicks could trade up to four of their own future first-round picks, plus some protected picks from other teams.
- Multiple sources tell Brian Lewis of The New York Post that Ben Simmons is “progressing well” in his recovery from a nerve impingement in his lower back, and he’s expected to be cleared to play 2-on-2 when the Nets return home on Thursday. Simmons would then play 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 before possibly being ready to return, Lewis writes. Simmons has been sidelined since November 6. As for Lonnie Walker, who has missed the past 16 games with a hamstring injury, he could return for Friday’s contest against OKC, Lewis adds.
- They Nets are spiraling down the standings, having lost four straight and nine of their past 11 games, with the two victories against Detroit. Tuesday’s loss to New Orleans marked a new low point, Lewis writes for The New York Post. Mikal Bridges said the team took its foot off the gas pedal. “We got punched in the mouth and just sat back,” Bridges said. “We didn’t keep going forward after. And that’s on players, right there. It’s going to be like that. They might make a run … you’ve got to have accountability on ourselves to get back up and fight, and besides just lay down. Like I said, I’ve got to do better just personally being more vocal and be more physical and being on both ends. You just can’t let up.”
I have to wonder if this trade was made with any other team beside the Knicks if it would be viewed with the same level of criticism. Was quickley really this universally beloved when he actually played for the Knicks vs now when he was traded?
I agree…I loved quick but the Knicks weren’t matching what he was gonna command and the small sample we got of OG on the Knicks looks like a match made in heaven I’ll give it 4 or 5 games before we can really see but I think this trade is a win win provided Toronto can resign Q and the Knicks can resign OG which I’m assuming when your agent is the son of the Knicks president you probably know it’s a done deal
Yep. He was.
IQ was beloved among Knick fans who attend the games, for sure, and I believe most others. But the deal should be called the “IQ deal” just on the WIN share comparison of the 3 players over the past 3 years. I can’t remember an aggregate disparity so one sided in any trade (not involving substantial FRPs).
If Knick fans are mis-remembering anything it’s that most of them gave up their hope that Barrett was on the threshold of developing into an All Star. That hope returned after the trade.
I said yesterday the Knicks should change for Karl Townhouse by including Evan Fournay, Grimes and Julian Randle plus 2 first-found pick swaps, so they can improve their defensive length and intensity.
Hartenstien is ok but not enough “dogs” in him – Townhouse is ON the Wolves, the most savage dog in the world.
Hartenstein has more dog in his pinky than Towns does in his entire body.
Townhouse? Julian Randle? Fournier? Seriously?
Clearly a bot.
Zero chance Simmons plays this year. He doesn’t like basketball. It’s clear.
He has to pretend so that he doesn’t risk losing any of his pay.
His back will prevent him from playing well or for long from here on out. A shame.
Quickley will never be better than RJ.
This writer should go to another sport.
This trade could swing to Toronto cause of the pick. I’ll leave it there so you can figured it out yourselves.
C’mon, man. Quickley vs. Barrett is no contest. The Knicks were always better with IQ on the court and always worse with RJ.
Both players will grow in Toronto, which was starved for creative guards. Barrett will become a solid starter… while IQ will become a borderline all-star.
Yeah he rode the bench and the other started his whole career. They are two different players. I guess you need an explanation. Let the rct explain it to you.
IQ already is better than RJ. Get a clue. And the pick will be like the 31st overall. There’s not a lot of value in that.
“ rct December 30, 2023
OG is overrated. Third best player on a 12-19 team. Raptors did great to get RJ and a pick, but to also get IQ is fantastic for them.”
Here he is saying OG is worth RJ and a pick. Yet not clue about Achiuwa and Flynn. Both #1 picks. Need to off Quickly Gradey ….
Have you ever asked your daddy to explain what stats are?
No your mom told me.
OG is kinda like the Kris Middleton fit.
Like hes your third best player and average about 20 points per game and shoots really efficiently but you can’t run your offence through him and he can really do much for himself out there.
Offensively I’d say Kris is better than OG but defensively OG is definitely better than Kris.
The difference is Giannas Antetokumpo and Jrue Holiday and better than Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.
I’m not the biggest fan of Randle cause of his inconsistency but when he’s on, he’s one of the best PF’s in the game. Like 30-10-8 with 40% from 3 kinda good but it’s just at other times he will be 15-7-2 and have shoot 6/24.
Still in really interested to see how they go. Jalen can step it up in the playoffs and average like 40 for a series, Josh Hart often makes huge plays, Mitchell Robinson was huge against Mobley and Allen last year. I like Thibs experience and the power of playing at MSG. Would love to see them up against and beating the Celtics. OG on Tatum giving him nightmares, Randle cooking Al Horford, Kristaps returns, Brunson dropping 50 on Jrue Holiday it would be awesome to see
Luka is going to force his way to NY.
Lots of picks going back to Dallas.
So I’m still waiting how the Knicks are worse.
Quickley your crush or something.
Quickley right now has not even developed his PG gm. I’m sure he can. But not there yet. He’s still a potential player. Hasn’t done anything yet. He can score. But hasn’t faced defenses that are meant to stop him. No team in NBA is preparing for Quickley.
RJ has proven he can score. He is younger than Quickley. And has already avg 20. He has shown he can bully SG and SF. His FT are solid. So he should become a better shooter. Which he does need to do.
Since you do t know BALL. You judge him as a Knick. When everyone has told you he wasn’t really a fit with Randle or Brunson. Like every network and sports rider. I’m the guy who waits on 23 yr olds. I don’t judge u til it’s clear to me. Hence the trade.
RJ has the potential to be a top 2way guy. Quickley hasn’t shown his high end potential yet. A bench player. In two yrs RJ will show he belongs with the all stars. Quickley may never be an allstar. He might I just don’t see it yet.
Do you work on this syte. Cause you’re a clueless fool. If you don’t understand what 31st pick means then your not only clueless. But a DF. I’d fire you today.
Figure it out
This is who your are ……..
“
rct
December 30, 2023
Only silver lining is that IQ is a FA at season’s end. Otherwise I don’t understand this move at all. Shockingly bad trade for the Knicks. Better be something else in the works because this makes them a worse team.”
Quickley was never going to play in NY. I’ve been telling you that for a yr now. Yet you can’t comprehend that.
Knicks are 2-0 with OG and that’s without Mitch. Randle and Brunson both are playing better. Gee I wonder why. You know Ball, yeah
You cry about what Knicks gave up. Then you have no clue how pick is best thing they got. Yet Knicks beat best team in West in first gm.
Why would Knicks pay Quickley to please you. This trade is what I said it is. About fit for both teams. And a better timeline with talent for both teams……..
I guess I have to explain that too.
Still waiting for an Explanation how Knicks are worse …..
Did the Knicks give up too much in terms of talent for OG? Yes.
That’s it. Could they make another move and be overall better? Also, Yes.
If they don’t make another move, then the OG trade was sorta pointless. Because they could have RJ, Quickley, and OG if they parted with FRPs and Fournier.