The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors executed the second big trade of the 2023-24 NBA regular season last weekend. New York sent Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and a second-round pick via the Detroit Pistons to Toronto in exchange for OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn.
It was a trade that stirred up plenty of debate and discussions. Many people believe this is just the first of what will be at least one if not two more by the Knicks. It also signaled a changing of the guard in Toronto, where Quickley and Barrett will be part of their new core along with Scottie Barnes.
From the Knicks perspective, this was a huge trade. While fans are upset about seeing two young players who helped turn the franchise around being gone, this is the first sign of Leon Rose gearing up to make a splash.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: OG Anunoby, Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks Updates
Anunoby is the perfect fit at small forward if New York will be building their team around Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. What makes him an ideal fit was on full display in his debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Offensively, Anunoby is an elite corner 3-point shooter. There isn’t a team in the NBA that generates more looks from the corners than the Knicks, making Anunoby perfect for the scheme head coach Tom Thibodeau runs.
In addition to his 3-point prowess, Anunoby is adept at cutting and finding spots in the defense to exploit. He constantly did that against the Timberwolves as he was on the receiving end of passes that resulted in easy dunks.
In both regards, Anunoby is an upgrade over Barrett, who has struggled to find consistency with his jump shot. But, the area in which he will provide the biggest upgrade is on the defensive end of the ball. While Barrett certainly had his moments on that side of the court, he doesn’t bring what Anunoby does to the table.
The prototype when it comes to two-way wings, Anunoby showcased his ability on that end of the court in his debut. As the starting small forward, he assumed the role of the defender against the opponent’s No. 1 option, in this case, Anthony Edwards.
He was excellent when matched up against the explosive Timberwolves star. As shared by Tommy Beer on X, via NBA Tracking Stats, Edwards was defended by Anunoby for 13:12 of matchup minutes and 68 possessions.
In that time, Edwards shot an ugly 4-of-14 from the field, coming out to 28.6 percent. He turned the ball over three times and didn’t hand out an assist as Anunoby got the job done.
While that performance was spectacular, his true value came out later in the game. When the Knicks began bringing players off the bench, it was Anunoby tasked with defending All-Star big man, Karl-Anthony Towns.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: OG Anunoby, Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks Updates
Towns found a lot of success when matched up against Julius Randle, going 9-of-14 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. He had three assists and only one turnover. But, when it was Anunoby defending him, Towns struggled.
Towns wasn’t as efficient shooting the ball, going 2-for-8 from the field and missing his one 3-point attempt. He turned the ball over twice compared to only one assist during their matchups as well.
That versatility on the defensive end is what makes Anunoby so special. He was on the All-Defensive Second Team for the 2022-23 NBA season and it was a well-deserved honor. The Knicks floor has been raised with Anunoby in the mix as Thibodeau’s defensive schemes will be even more impactful with a player of his caliber in the mix.
If he can continue contributing on offense in the same fashion he did in his debut, with a little more shot creation, the Knicks’ ceiling will rise exponentially. He fills a major hole in their rotation and enables Rose to focus on upgrading somewhere else on the roster.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
