Knicks fans bash front office after RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley trade
It'll take a while for New York Knicks fans to accept that RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are now on another team. Not only that, but they play for a hated division rival, the Toronto Raptors.
In a shocking move, the Knicks sent Barrett, Quickley, and a 2024 second-round pick to the Raptors for OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn. New York waived DaQuan Jeffries to open a roster spot after the trade.
Knicks fans should've already started to prepare themselves for losing Quickley, as he's set to be a restricted free agent during the offseason, but to lose him and Barrett in the same trade was unexpected. Or, to lose them both in December and not closer to the trade deadline was unexpected.
The Toronto Raptors are finalizing a trade to send OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks for a package including RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and draft considerations, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Z81TH1EexF
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 30, 2023
Knicks fans react to losing RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Raptors
Josh Hart and Immanuel Quickley aren't classified as Knicks fans, but they were the first two players to react to the news shortly after it was reported.
What I wake up to
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) December 30, 2023
Oh my goodness….
— Immanuel Jaylen Quickley (@IQ_GodSon) December 30, 2023
Tweets from fans began to pour in processing the trade, with some excited for what's to come, but others declared it a bad move by the Knicks.
I woke up to bad news and then check my phone and see even worse news this is literally a living nightmare https://t.co/PS3HzHa7Gv
— Shaun On Playback (@iHateShaun) December 30, 2023
Brunson story all over again i can already see it
— Bril (@notpeppers) December 30, 2023
Quickley has the tools to be a star in today's NBA, but at least New York got something in return for him rather than let him walk for nothing, which happened to Dallas when Jalen Brunson left.
Immanuel Quickley is going to average 20+ PPG on great efficiency somewhere.
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) December 30, 2023
And that’s gonna hurt. pic.twitter.com/YYyK9dxBSG
It's interesting (although not necessarily surprising) that fans seem more upset that Quickley is leaving over Barrett. The Toronto native was supposed to be the future when he was drafted No. 3 overall in 2019 and signed an extension in 2022. Quickley was a first-round draft pick in 2020, and he made his name known in 2022-23 with a Sixth Man runner-up finish.
As the dust settles… I get why NY did this trade. RJ is a negative asset and paying Quickley makes the finances hairy.
— zach (@_zachblatter) December 30, 2023
OG is going to take this starting lineup to another level.
But IQ is one of those guys you have to do everything to keep a Knick for life.
Fans dreaded seeing Obi Toppin suit up for the Pacers after he was traded in July, and Quickley wearing a Raptors uniform doesn't compare. With a more prominent role in Toronto, IQ will have a prime shot at making the Knicks regret not paying him in the first place.
Look at us. We draft Quickley at 25. He improves his play every year. He's no trouble on or off the court. But instead of paying him, we pay DiVincenzo. This Mfer had 2 points yesterday. Then we show our own pick the door. This is some BS!
— Tony Banks (@hiphopstolen) December 30, 2023
One last thing: even though I like the trade all aliens to an extent
— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) December 30, 2023
THOMAS THIBODEAU will pay for his crimes of hardly ever playing Brunson and Quickley together
Just absurdity
Knicks Twitter fights all the time about the players on the roster, but I don’t think there’s one player we unanimously love more than Immanuel Quickley.
— Josh Rodriguez (@Josh_Rodriguez_) December 30, 2023
It's too early to determine which team won the trade, although some Knicks fans have already exclaimed the Raptors did. OG Anunoby will fit in well alongside Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, and if you haven't noticed, he's a pretty good player.
Cope with losing Quickley and Barrett however you need to, but eventually, you'll have to move forward. There are still 51 regular-season games left to be played!
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