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OG Anunoby has reportedly declined his $19.9 million player option to return to the New York Knicks for the 2024-25 season, making him a free agent.
The 26-year-old Anunoby, who has played seven NBA seasons, just averaged 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals for the Toronto Raptors and Knicks in 2023-24.
The Knicks acquired Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn from the Raptors in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round draft pick on Dec. 30.
Anunoby played six-plus seasons in Toronto, who selected him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft out of Indiana. His accolades with the Raptors include helping the team win the 2019 NBA Finals and earning NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2023. Anunoby notably led the NBA with 1.9 steals during the 2022-23 season.
Anunoby signed a four-year, $72 million contract extension with the Raps in Dec. 2020, with a player option for 2024-25.
The Raptors traded Anunoby in the midst of a lost season (12-19 at the time of the trade). With Anunoby potentially opting out of his deal, a trade made too much sense.
Meanwhile, the Knicks, who have long coveted Anunoby, were fighting to become of the Eastern Conference’s elite teams. That midseason shakeup signaled that the Knicks were doing what they could do fight for a championship with Jalen Brunson leading the way.
Anunoby finished the season averaging 14.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG and 1.7 SPG for the Knicks, who went 26-6 with him on the floor.
New York was clearly better with Anunoby, who missed time with right elbow ailments and a left hamstring strain, the latter of which was suffered in the playoffs.
His presence was sorely needed, too, with the Knicks also losing Julius Randle for the season on Jan. 29 with a dislocated right shoulder.
Anunoby was healthy for the entire first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, a 4-2 Knicks victory. He played Game 1 of the second round against the Indiana Pacers (121-117 win) but then got hurt in Game 2 with a hamstring strain after scoring 28 points in 28 minutes. He didn’t play again until Game 7, giving it a go for a five minutes before being forced to the bench in a 130-109 series-ending loss.
While Anunoby did miss a lot of time, there’s no denying his value to the Knicks, and that certainly raised his profile going into the offseason. And it’s clear New York valued him too, to the point where SNY’s Ian Begley provided this June 19 report.
Ultimately, Anunoby clearly raised his contract value during his team with the Knicks, so it’s no surprise that he’s looking to enter free agency. He’ll certainly land a well-deserved and lucrative contract somewhere.
