Pass or Pursue with Knicks-Raptors trade for OG Anunoby
In the newest edition of Pass or Pursue, we have a new trade proposal for the Knicks, this time centering on Raptors star wing OG Anunoby, who has been surrounded by rumors all season. This is mostly due to Toronto having a rather disappointing season and potentially looking to blow things up in order to rebuild.
The Knicks have played well for most of the season and have plenty of room to improve so it could make sense to attempt to add a player of Anunoby’s caliber for the right price.
Anunoby is a player that every team wants, meaning that bringing him to New York likely won’t be cheap. However, a player with the skillset and talent of Anunoby could be a real difference-maker for the Knicks, so paying a lot could be worth it.
Pass or Pursue with Knicks-Raptors trade proposal involving OG Anunoby
This trade came from Eric Koreen of The Athletic and is one that would certainly change things up for both the Knicks and Raptors. In all honestly, I kind of like it. A lot of the time people try to add big-time names to the Knicks like Zach LaVine who wouldn’t fit and are being paid too much, however, Anunoby would fit perfectly on the Knicks and would solve a lot of their problems.
Considering what the Raptors are reportedly hoping to get for Anunoby, this is an absolute steal, hence why this trade may be a little unrealistic. However, if the Knicks were offered this trade they should accept it without hesitation.
The 2023 pick going to Toronto would be the better of the Knicks’ two picks this season between their own and the Mavericks. Considering how well the Knicks are currently playing, plus how much better they’d be with Anunoby, this pick would likely be in the 20s, and what are the odds of a player picked that late being better than Anunoby?
While losing the 2025 pick may hurt a bit, the Knicks are an incredibly young team that will more likely than not still be in playoff contention at that point, so it’s not like they’d be giving up a top-tier pick.
What may be the hardest thing to let go of in this trade is Obi Toppin, a player with a good amount of potential. However, with the way he is used in New York, it may be better to let him go to a team that will utilize him better.
Toppin has the potential to be one of the best finishers and rollers in the league, yet is constantly used as a spot-up shooter for the Knicks’ offense. This is a Tom Thibodeau problem but with how successful the Knicks have been it is doubtful that he will be fired this season, so it may just be best to trade Toppin to get a star like Anunoby.
Anunoby has been one of the NBA’s most versatile defenders for years and would help solve any defensive woes the Knicks have had this season. Alongside this, he also hits his threes at a 36.8% rate on 5.3 attempts.
Overall, he is averaging 18.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and a league-leading 2.3 steals while shooting 46.7% from the field. There truly isn’t a reason for the Knicks to decline this deal, as not only is OG Anunoby the better player than Toppin is now, but who knows if Toppin will ever be as good as him.
Verdict: Pursue
