The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors reached a deal on Saturday afternoon that sent OG Anunoby—along with reserves Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn—to Manhattan in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a second-round selection. The move shook the NBA landscape.
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During his four years in the league, Quickley has proven that he is a dangerous scorer and incredibly effective guard. Because of his youth, Quickley was such an intriguing prospect on the New York roster, even if there were doubts about whether the Knicks would have been able to retain him during the winter (Quickley is a restricted free agency in 2024 after failing to secure a long-term deal over the summer).
uld assist the Knicks (17-14) in resolving a number of the problems they had in the early going of the 2023–24 season, especially the ones that arose in connection with Mitchell Robinson’s potentially devastating injury. Anunoby is a more reliable long-range shooter and a superior defender than Barrett. Although his numbers in Toronto may not have been particularly impressive, he is th
In the quest for quick fixes, young athletes often face impatience from modern sports organizations and fans. Some members of the team and fan base will want to see a young player moved if they aren’t performing well right away, especially if they show any signs of staying good.
Players Barrett (age 23) and Quickley (age 24) have demonstrated talent during their time in New York. During the 2021–22 season, for instance, the former made history by becoming the youngest Knick to average 20 points in a single season. The notion that five years should be sufficient to determine whether you have a good player or not is sound, but it isn’t necessarily the case when that player is still under 25, particularly if he is an early draft pick like Barrett.
After spending just two seasons with the New York Jets, Geno Smith was benched and sent to the Seattle Seahawks, where he was given a life preserver offer. Although neither player made it to 23, some have lobbied for Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko to be traded to the New York Rangers, the Knicks’ cold Madison Square Garden co-tenants. In baseball, some Mets supporters are willing to give up on elite prospects who haven’t even played a complete season as starters, like Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez.
e kind of player that may play a significant role in a lengthy playoff run.
