Knicks Top Free Agency Priority Revealed
The New York Knicks made a big trade for OG Anunoby in late December, and it turned out to be a good decision so far.
The Knicks were 20-3 in the regular season with Anunoby on the floor and they have continued to shine when he plays in the playoffs with a 6-2 mark. Even though he's been injured, the Knicks should look to sign an extension with Anunoby when their offseason begins.
Back in December, the Knicks coughed up two key contributors (RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley) plus an early second-round pick to land OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors. And they did so while knowing the versatile swingman needed a monster new deal sooner than later. (He technically has an $18 million player option for next season, but he'll obliterate that pay rate on the open market)," Bleacher Report writes.
"The injury bug has battered him a few times, but not enough to stand in the way of a sizable agreement. He may not get max money, but don't be surprised if the 'Bockers give him something awfully close to it."
The Knicks have other items on their to-do list, including signing Isaiah Hartenstein or making a trade for a big star, but signing Anunoby could be the most important given his impact on the defensive end and the track record he's established in his short Knicks career.
If Anunoby can get a full season in New York, perhaps the Knicks will end up at the top of the Eastern Conference and form one of the league's most unstoppable teams.
JEREMY BRENER
Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.