The New York Knicks could lose not one but two starters in free agency this offseason. Isaiah Hartenstein will be an unrestricted free agent, and OG Anunoby has a $19.9 million player option he's expected to decline to enter unrestricted free agency.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that Anunoby wasn't happy with New York's initial offer and will test free agency. As nerve-wracking as that can be for Knicks fans, it isn't abnormal. Even though OG wants to test the market, that doesn't mean he won't stay in New York.
Free agency will officially start on June 30, and the Knicks will have some competition to retain the wing.
3 teams that could try to lure OG Anunoby away from the Knicks
3. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs finished as the second-worst team in the West in 2023-24, so why would they care about Anunoby? Hello, Victor Wembanyama.
San Antonio struck gold at the 2023 draft lottery. Wembanyama somehow exceeded expectations during his rookie season and proved he's going to be a threat in the league for a long time. The Spurs were awarded the No. 1 pick for a reason, so Wemby isn't surrounded by championship-level talent.
The front office is tasked with building a winning roster around Wembanyama. There has been a lot of speculation about Trae Young's future with the Hawks. The Spurs have popped up as a possible destination for Young, but there's no guarantee Atlanta will trade him, or that San Antonio will be interested.
If the Spurs want to boost their defense with one of the best wings in the NBA, they'll explore the possibility of signing Anunoby. Like the other teams on this list, San Antonio has the money to spend. The Spurs aren't one of the top teams not named the Knicks that have been linked to OG, but they're still a team to watch.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City surprised the NBA world in 2023-24 with a No. 1 finish in the West with a stacked young squad. The Thunder's success flamed out in the playoffs with a second-round loss to the Mavericks, but the future is bright.
OKC is reportedly interested in Isaiah Hartenstein, as the Thunder could offer him more money than the Knicks. If they wanted to pivot their attention toward Anunoby, they could. He'd slide in perfectly in their starting lineup, but it'd come down to whether the front office wants to commit a lot of money to him or not.
If Anunoby meets with Oklahoma City in free agency, he could strongly consider taking the offer. The Thunder are on the rise and have the flexibility to spend. OKC could top New York's offer. Like the Knicks, the Thunder have a star point guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
OKC is a team to watch as free agency draws nearer. Anunoby should be on Sam Presti's radar.
1. Philadelphia Sixers
The Sixers are the Knicks' biggest threat to steal Anunoby. If Philadelphia doesn't get Paul George (who is viewed as the team's top target), Daryl Morey could offer OG more money than New York. At the very least, the Sixers could force the Knicks to up their offer.
The clock is ticking for Philadelphia. Drafting Ben Simmons didn't work out, and neither did the James Harden trade. Joel Embiid is 30 years old, and hasn't made it to an Eastern Conference Finals. Luckily for the Sixers, they have Tyrese Maxey, a 2024 first-time All-Star, but they need another star.
Anunoby doesn't fit the 'star' label but all Philadelphia needs to do is look at how he elevated New York in the second half of the season. The Knicks went 26-5 with him in the lineup. The Sixers are a different team, but they need a defensive-minded forward, hence their interest in George.
If Philadelphia makes OG an offer, he'd have to at least consider it, especially if it's more than New York's offer. The Sixers have one of the top players in the league (when healthy) and one of the best rising young players. The point of being an unrestricted free agent is to consider all options. Anunoby would be doing himself a disservice if he didn't.
Even though signing with the Sixers would have some perks (money is a big factor), OG should want to stay with the Knicks.