The New York Knicks kicked off trade season with a bang by trading away their beloved young wing, RJ Barrett, in a deal for Raptors swingman OG Anunoby. The deal is receiving widespread praise online, but recent reports out of New York suggest that this could be just the beginning of a busy stretch for Leon Rose.
“I don’t think they’re done, said Knicks insider Ian Begley. “I think this was one of two bigger moves that are in the plans and in the framework of how they’re thinking. So I don’t think they’re done, they still have assets to work with.”
NYK & TOR talked framework of OG Anunoby deal when they played at TOR earlier this month. NYK closed deal today, landing player on its radar for at least 1 year. There was concern about re-signing Quickley bec of other players NYK hopes to re-sign. More: pic.twitter.com/ZFpYUfryT2
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) December 30, 2023
The Knicks made out pretty good in the deal, giving up two mid-level rotation players (Barrett and Quickley) for one of the best defensive wings in the league. Arguably the best part about the trade is that the Knicks only gave up a second-round pick, meaning they still have plenty of draft capital to use or trade. After the OG deal, the Knicks may look to strengthen their frontline with the extended absence of Mitchell Robinson and they have enough to get something done.
Big Plans For The Knicks
After signing Jalen Brunson in the 2022 offseason, the Knicks have become a completely different team. Going from completely irrelevant to being a scrappy, hardnosed playoff team, Brunson has made all the difference in New York and he’s helped establish a competitive culture there in just a few short years. Still, the Knicks are not quite good enough to make a Finals run, and Leon Rose seems aware of this reality.
By trading for OG, the Knicks have beefed up their talent pool with hopes of getting closer to the top-level teams. Now, it seems like more moves are coming to continue their ascent. With a mix of quality role-players and future draft picks, they have the means to execute several more deals and even potentially bring in a superstar for the first time since Camelo Anthony.
Donovan Mitchell A Possibility?
The trade for OG has no doubt decreased the likelihood of a Donovan Mitchell trade, and there are currently no indications that the Cavs are even willing to have that conversation. But the rumors have been persistent over recent weeks and the Knicks have always been a team in the mix for his services. If they want to double down on this regime and truly go all-in, chasing a star like Mitchell is the only way to go.
With a package of future picks and players like Quinten Grimes, Miles McBride, and Evan Fournier, a Mitchell to New York trade is a possibility that cannot be ignored. As one of the top 15 players in the league, Mitchell’s arrival would take the Knicks to an entirely new level in the Eastern Conference. Now, it’s up to Leon Rose and company to make it happen so the Knicks can make some real noise this season.
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