OG Anunoby agrees to huge contract with Knicks
Jan 25, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Rumor has suggested that some teams were going to try to lure OG Anunoby away from the New York Knicks this summer. As it turns out, none of them will get the chance.
Anunoby agreed to a five-year contract with the Knicks on Wednesday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The deal is worth $212.5 million and includes a trade kicker and a player option.
Free agent F OG Anunoby intends to sign a five-year, $212.5 million contract to return to the New York Knicks, sources tell ESPN. Deal will include a player option and a trade kicker. pic.twitter.com/q5VcjOeryW
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
The Knicks could offer Anunoby up to $245 million over five years, and there were some claims that the player was underwhelmed by what the team was offering. Any issues on that front were clearly resolved quickly.
According to Ian Begley of SNY, Anunoby was likely to receive max offers if he hit the open market, but has a firm belief in the Knicks’ vision.
OG Anunoby would have had max offers coming from other places, per sources monitoring the wing market. But Anunoby saw the vision with the Knicks and wanted to help build a true contender in the Garden, SNY sources say.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 26, 2024
The Knicks acquired Anunoby from Toronto last December for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, gambling that they would be able to re-sign him long-term. They have won that bet. Though limited to 23 regular season games and nine playoff appearances by injury, the Knicks were outstanding when he was able to play and he combined 14.1 points per game with quality defense.
Some other teams were reportedly willing to make big offers to Anunoby if he hit the open market. That will not happen now, and the Knicks can concentrate on other business having already made another huge move to start their offseason.
