Raptors to trade OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa to Knicks
Posted December 30, 2023 12:40 pm.
Last Updated December 30, 2023 5:59 pm.
The Toronto Raptors are finalizing a trade to send OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa to the New York Knicks in exchange for a package including RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and draft considerations, the teams announced Saturday.
Raptors guard, 25-year-old Malachi Flynn, is also headed to the Knicks as part of this deal. He also reported the Knicks are waiving DaQuan Jeffries to create roster space.
Anunoby is in the final year of his deal, and although he does have a $19.9-million player option for next season, he is expected to decline it and enter free agency.
Selected by the Raptors in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft, Anunoby has spent his entire seven-year career in Toronto.
Anunoby is primarily known for his defensive prowess and is often tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best offensive player.
With Anunoby being traded and point guard Fred VanVleet’s off-season departure, Pascal Siakam and Chris Boucher are the only remaining players from the Raptors’ 2019 championship season.
Achiuwa, originally a first-round selection for the Miami Heat in 2020, was acquired by the Raptors as part of the sign-and-trade deal that sent Kyle Lowry to Miami. He’s spent three years with the Raptors, averaging 20.6 minutes across 153 games during that time.
Achiuwa has averaged 7.7 points in 17.5 minutes over 25 games this season. He is a restricted free agent after this year.
Barrett, from Mississauga, Ont., has averaged 18.2 points a game and is a solid three-point shooter. Quickley has averaged 15 points per game this season.
Barrett is in the first year of a four-year, $107-million deal. He helped Canada qualify for the Olympics and finish third at the World Cup this past summer.
Quickley, who finished second in sixth man of the year voting last season, becomes a restricted free agent after this season.
The deal comes in the midst of a legal battle between the Raptors and the Knicks with each side issuing numerous court filings over New York’s allegations that Toronto stole video files.
The Raptors (12-19) are one game out of a play-in tournament spot. All eyes will now turn to Pascal Siakam, who can become a free agent after this season.
Sportsnet’s Michael Grange reports league sources are expecting Siakam to be dealt before the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
The Knicks (17-14) are seventh in the East.
The teams next play each other Jan. 20 in New York.
