With the Knicks and Raptors both playing tonight, the two head coaches were able to talk about their new acquisitions in pregame sessions with reporters.
New York’s Tom Thibodeau started by saying he has handled personnel decisions before, so he understands how much work went into today’s trade. He added that it was difficult to part with RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, but OG Anunoby brings too many positives to pass up (video link from Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files).
“I think what OG has done and what he has shown is, one, he has positional size,” Thibodeau said. “Two, he can guard multiple positions. Three, he’s a terrific three-point shooter so he can space the floor. He’s also good in transition, very good finishing. And he’s young, so he still has a lot of development left in his game.”
Thibodeau added that Precious Achiuwa will give the team much-needed size and offensive rebounding, and he called Malachi Flynn “a good young player as well.”
Prior to tonight’s game in Detroit, Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic discussed how adding Barrett will affect the offense, tweets Eric Koreen of The Athletic.
“RJ is a very dynamic player,” Rajakovic said. “He is a very good cutter, good driver, an improved spot-up shooter as well. I’m really excited to see how he’s going to jell with our team.”
There’s more on today’s blockbuster trade:
- Raptors president Masai Ujiri was in Detroit with the team and broke the news of the trade to Anunoby, Achiuwa and Flynn, tweets Kayla Gray of TSN Sports. She hears that Barrett and Quickley are expected to travel to Toronto tomorrow and meet with the media on Monday (Twitter link). They’ll likely make their debut in Monday night’s game against Cleveland.
- Knicks veteran Taj Gibson talked to both Barrett and Quickley this morning after the deal became public, relays Steve Popper of Newsday (Twitter link). Gibson said it was “gut-wrenching” to lose the two players, but he told them they’ll have great opportunities in Toronto.
- Although Anunoby is a nice addition to the roster, the Knicks don’t believe they’ll be able to obtain a true star player before next summer, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic. New York still owns a wealth of draft assets, Katz adds, along with the salaries of Josh Hart, Evan Fournier, Donte DiVincenzo and Quentin Grimes to use in a trade for a max-salary player.
Thibs going to turn OG into the next Jimmy Butler
Hope so lol. But you’re on the right track there.
He’s way more like Derrick McKey than Jimmy
First off McKey was bigger. And he never reached the potential most thought of him. OG is 26. Give him time to fail. Don’t Be like most of the haters here.
Knicks aren’t better after this trade tho. OG isn’t anywhere near Himmy Butler. He’s a downgrade from RJ and IQ offensively. Yes, great defender. Unless this move is paired with say nabbing Donovan Mitchell or a premier scorer with the picks they have and Fourniers contract…. this wasnt a move. Fournier + IQ and Picks would have been the way to go and kept RJ.
Google team fit and team chemistry. I would think a Sixer fan would understand that. After Harden and the way team is playing now.
OG is rock solid and has come up clutch many times for the Raptors. You guys will love him in NY.
I love OG. But you thinking he has Jimmy Butler potential tells me you don’t watch other teams very often. There is no world where OG reaches Jimmy’s offensive game, not even close.
I’ll settle for him turning into the next Mikal Bridges. They have similar (though not identical) measurables and skill set profiles. Bridges was given a post-trade opportunity to expand his offensive game, and seized it.
Butler is a true superstar, and one of the great development stories in NBA history. He entered the league later than most (22) as a college C with no ability or even willingness to shoot or facilitate. Now he’s one of those big 2 way perimeter guys that you can run an offense through. If Anunoby had that upside in him, I think at least some of it would have surfaced by now.
Clearly they have never watched him try to dribble. It’s an adventure every time.
Knicks need to turn those assets into a true star player without giving up too much. That’s a very delicate balance to strike. The old Pistons approach of having a team ful of very good players that come together to be champions is very rare and the hardest to pull off. This current Knicks team is certainly not it. Brunson and Randle are not a duo good enough to win a title
Team needs that final star.
To be fair, there are a lot of teams that need that one final star. They’re not easy to come by, and if one does pop up closer to the deadline, (depending on position) the Knicks will likely need to compete with Philly, Miami, Dallas, OKC, LAL, and Sac for that player(s).
It’s also too early to get a feel for who may be available that would push the Knicks to next level.
LaVine’s not that guy, nor is DeRozan. If the Knicks had wanted Siakim as well, I’m sure the teams would have been able to work out a bigger deal. Guys who are most likely available from bottom feeding teams like Bojan, Jerami, Hayward and more won’t move the needle enough.
At best, possibly Dejounte and Spida may be available.
I agree with you 100% which is why I wouldn’t assume the Knicks are close to a title.
In fact getting Luka or Embiid, while to close to being if not outright impossible without the star demanding a trade is the Knicks most likely path to a title. They have the assets to make it interesting
Uh oh you are going to anger Al by saying DeRozan isn’t the guy…
What I want and what Knicks do. Aren’t the same thing. All thought wish it was. I’m just ahead of the narrative. Still want DeM
DeM, Murray, DM in that order
Jalen Brunson
Add Player Here
O.G Anunoby
Julius Randle
Mitch Robinson
Josh Hart. It’s Josh Hart. lol
Brunson OG Randle that’s a solid core
Brunson gives you really solid consistent offence and a leader. OG is a great third option, provides some spacing but is an elite defender. Randle is the teams second option and has a great skill set. Think pairing him with OG is a really good fit. Once Robinson returns they will be a strong side.
Precious helps fill that 4/5 spot, solid rebounder and energy guy. He’s also got a three point shot worth developing.
Brunson Divancenzo OG Randle Robinson
McBride/Flynn Grimes Hart Precious Hartenstein
The only 2 things I have with this side is, 1 they are a little inexperienced. They don’t have a true 10 year vet with years of playoff runs that’ll help lead them, it’s a group of guys relatively the same age which all are trying to figure it all out at the same time. I know he’s not coming but even if they had a John Wall, Kemba Walker or Isiah Thomas off the bench as their back up PG who could help Grimes in the backcourt, facilitate for others and just run the ship smoothly.
Then secondly, all 3 of their stars aren’t top tier. When they make the playoffs and go up against say the Cavs I’d say Spida is the best player in that series, you could even try argue Garland over Brunson and Mobley over Randle. So big 3 against big 3 the Cavs could have the best of all 3 match ups. Then looking at the second unites they have Rubio, LeVert, Niang etc guys with experience.
Thats my only concern for them. I like Thibs and his style, I like Brunson ability to step up and take over games, I think Randle needs to be more consistent and I’m looking forward to how well OG fits, I think he’s a great fit
I think Cleveland should be concerned that this is the last year that they have the advantage of having Donovan Mitchell. Knicks beat them last year.
Isn’t Donovan Mitchell sitting on a Player Option for 2025??????? Not hard for him to find his way home if he wants to.
Should Cleveland just go ahead an capitulate now, and see how many assets you can extract??? Can they ultimately afford to put Garland, Mitchell and Mobley on max deals anyway???
Knicks beat them with Mobley and Allen crumbling to Robinson.
Brunson vs Mitchell was great to watch.
But that was a relatively fresh team, Mobley was a rookie, Donovan had just joined them I think they weren’t ready. It would be worth them but I just used them as an example
Knicks could line up against Bucks Celtics Sixers Miami etc and not have the best player and struggle to have the second best player.
As for Cleveland, I’m not particularly high on their big 4. I think Donovan’s style takes away from Garland and doesn’t allow him to thrive. Mobley and Allen just seem like an odd fit in my opinion. Plus it’s just a little too inexperienced for my liking.
Again just my opinion but I’d like to see Garland and Allen in NOLA with Zion. It allows Garland to run the show through Zion. Think he suits that lead guard, second option play style. As for Allen he gets to control the paint which makes Zions life easier on defence. Feel like it’s the smart way for them to build around Zion. The only problem is Brandon Ingram on his own isn’t enough of a return for Cleveland. I think he’d be a great fit cause again he suits that second option playing off Spida and with Mobley a really versatile big. But he doesn’t hold enough value on his own, Trey Murphy wouldn’t fit with Spida Ingram and Mobley, ideally you’d want a stretch big that can block shots and a point guard that’ll offer some size and is happy to play off ball but still provides some spacing.
Seems like a win win trade.
Knicks I think still need a different running mate with Brunson. OG makes more sense as his #3 though. They still have assets to chase such a player in the future.
Barnes and IQ are going to be interesting. Feels like Raptors have more options now. Including keeping Siakam if they want. Pushes Barrett down to #4 on the pecking around which makes more sense for him as well. Either way the roster also makes way more sense right now.
OG gonna play all 48 minutes…
Wilt C style
OG has yet to score 20ppg. Can he be an allstar? Still a third option. His ceiling has been met.
OG is going to get the Tobias Harris treatment when he gets re-upped and paid this offseason by the Knicks.
Or they’ll have 32M in cap space if OG walks.
OG hasn’t played a min for Knicks yet. Yet we have predictions galore here. Why would any of you care. Let life live and be a expectator. .
Just like you lurk around news about other teams.
DeM >>>> to Knickerbockers
OG replaces RJ …..
Lose Quickley so now McBride has his shot.
Achiuwa solidifies our depth. Backs up Randle.
What’s not to like ….. NYK
In Thibs we Trust ……..
No.
Knicks got killed in this trade. OG is not better than RJ Barrett at least offensively. The problem I have with it isn’t with a RJ for OG swap, it’s with trading Quickley too. That is where Ujiri absolutely won this trade. Unless the goal was to save 32M and yet remain competitive. As far as talent goes Toronto won this one.
Disagree big time.
RJ might have better offensive numbers but he doesn’t shoot better nor does he make better looks he just takes more shots as the third option on a team which had Grimes taking what 5 shots a game and Robinson only getting points on outback dunks and alleys.
OG had to share the ball with Schroder GTJ Scottie Pascal and Poeltl who all like to handle the ball to some degree and get shots up.
Statistically OG over his career is 47% from the field to 42% and 38% from 3 to 34%.
OG averages 9.5 shot attempts to RJ’s 14.5.
As for defensively OG is one of the best in the league ….
IQ will be missed for sure but previous helps fill the Obi void they were missing and I guess it’s up to Flynn/McBride/Grimes to step up and take over IQ’s bench impact role.
The fact it only cost them a second rounder aswell. And that Is needed an extension but was never going to start over Brunson.
It’s a terrific deal for the Knicks (Sixers fan)
In the end Knicks team D is bad without their rim protector. OG and Achiuwa will help here. But they need Mitch.
Since Mitch has gone down. Knicks are giving up over 120 pts a gm. They are 5-6 in this stretch.
Last night 4 Pacers had over 20 pts. Pacers scored 140 pts. Hali with 20 and 23 ast.
Donte with 38 points …….
The Pacers are putting up 125+ a night on everybody. The Pacers are the Phoenix Suns with Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire on steroids. Rick Carlisle pretty much is saying we will just outscore ya. Because Indy plays 7 seconds or less on offense if ya keep them below 125 you did good. Atlanta is another team just just puts up bucket after bucket. So the Knicks having a bad night against Indy defensively isn’t too worrisome, I’d be concerned if Minnesota or Miami put up those points.