2023-24 may be the last hurrah for one talented player in The Big Apple.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday that Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley will now become a restricted free agent next summer after failing to agree to an extension with the team. Monday, the day before the start of the new NBA season, marked the deadline for players from the 2020 draft class to agree to extensions with their current clubs.
Wojnarowski shared a list of other prominent NBA players who will also now hit restricted free agency in summer 2024 after Monday’s deadline passed without a deal.
No rookie contract extensions for Atlanta’s Saddiq Bey, New York’s Immanuel Quickley, Chicago’s Patrick Williams, Indiana’s Obi Toppin and Toronto’s Precious Achuwa, sources tell ESPN. Those will be the top players able to join restricted free agency next summer.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 23, 2023
The 24-year-old Quickley is perhaps the most intriguing of those names. He had a coming-out party of sorts last year, posting 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in less than 30 minutes per game mostly off the bench for the Knicks. Quickley has established himself as a shifty playmaker who provides plenty of value with his energy in the halfcourt, his ability to splash the three ball (which he did at 37.0 percent last season), and his underrated defense.
Immanuel Quickley highlights vs. the Celtics:
38 points (15/28 FG, 5-12 3FG)
8 rebounds
7 assists
1 Turnover pic.twitter.com/OTlCcQz4YP— Knicks Fan TV 🏀🎥📺🏁 (@KnicksFanTv) March 6, 2023
THE IMMANUEL QUICKLEY SHOW 🍿
7 straight points for @IQ_GodSon pic.twitter.com/29WkKGhLug
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 30, 2023
IN GAME FILM STUDY: The NYK were 12 pts per 100 possessions better defensively with Quickley on the court. Some people get skeptical because he's only good on-ball. Let this 3-possession sequence show you what makes him special:
1) stunt on Edwards
2+3) elite off-ball awareness pic.twitter.com/qqrG27iDKW— Hot Hand Theory (@HotHandTheory) October 15, 2023
The Knicks can obviously still match any offer for Quickley next offseason. But their failure to extend him right now might end up being a big mistake (or conversely, it might be a sign that the Knicks intend to trade Quickley as has been previously rumored).
