Daily Knicks
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3 Eastern Conference rivals Knicks fans can clown for trade deadline decisions

By Jordanna Clark

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 30: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kyrie Irving #11 (L) and Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets look on against the Los Angeles Lakers at Barclays Center on January 30, 2023 in New York City. The Nets defeated the Lakers 121-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 30: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kyrie Irving #11 (L) and Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets look on against the Los Angeles Lakers at Barclays Center on January 30, 2023 in New York City. The Nets defeated the Lakers 121-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, OG Anunoby
OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) – New York Knicks /

1: Toronto Raptors

All of that talk about the Raptors being sellers leading up to the trade deadline ended up being pointless. After trading for Jakob Poeltl early Thursday morning, Toronto didn’t make any other moves for the remainder of the day.

OG Anunoby is a player that the Knicks had expressed interest in, as well as many other teams including the Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Warriors. There was a rumor floating around that Anunoby wasn’t happy with his role in Toronto, but he denied that claim. However, there’s still been whispers that the 25-year-old wants to leave the Raptors, which is something that Anunoby wouldn’t admit even if it were true.

If Toronto was going to trade one of its starters ahead of the deadline, the thought was that it’d be Anunoby. That didn’t happen, though, and here’s why.

Yes, the Raptors missed the opportunity to sell high, but perhaps the issue was that Toronto was looking to make a blockbuster trade. Anunoby’s price was reportedly too steep for rival front offices before Kevin Durant was traded and after that, his price tag went up with Western Conference teams wanting to compete with Phoenix. Instead of capitalizing on that, the Raptors did nothing.

Similar to Chicago, Toronto is No. 10 in the East with a 26-30 record after finishing No. 5 in the conference last season. The Raptors believe that they have a good team as is, but their on-court performance so far this year doesn’t reflect that. What a shame.

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