Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Fred Katz@FredKatz
OG Anunoby has declined his $19.9 million player option for next season, a league source tells The Athletic, an expected move. Anunoby will now officially become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Free agency begins June 30.
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.
News
SUITE SURPRISE Bachelorette fans think Jenn Tran slipped up and revealed ‘secret fling’ with Pete Davidson after Devin’s Fantasy Suite
Plus, Bachelorette fans rage over yet another schedule change ahead of the finale BACHELORETTE fans have been convinced Jenn Tran and Pete Davidson had a secret fling after Monday’s Fantasy Suite episode. During the show, Jenn and finalist Devin, a…
DEEP WOUND Mariah Carey admitted it was ‘safer’ to have no contact with her brother and sister before Alison’s tragic death
Alison Carey, 63, died on the same day as Mariah’s mother Patricia, 87, the singer confirmed MARIAH Carey reflected on her complicated relationships with her siblings years before sister Alison Carey’s tragic death. On Monday, Mariah, 55, announced that her mother Patricia Carey,…
MARIAH’S PAIN From being offered cocaine & ‘pimped out’ by sister aged 12 to sick arson attacks – Mariah Carey’s traumatic family life
The star hit rock bottom in 2001, saying she was ‘broken down by the very people who were supposed to keep me whole’ WHEN Mariah Carey’s mom and sister both died this weekend the pop legend had to be careful…
MOVING ON Ben Affleck looks happier than ever during fast food run after he was spotted with Kick Kennedy following split from JLo
BEN Affleck has been spotted showing off his smile during an outing after his divorce from Jennifer Lopez. The actor stopped for fast food in Beverly Hills, California, on Saturday. 6 Ben Affleck smiling ear to ear while ordering fast…
SUPER BUMP Nicki Minaj shares pregnancy photos in new Gag City Reloaded album announcement leaving fans confused
And why some fans weren’t too thrilled to see Nicki posing with her husband NICKI Minaj has been promoting the upcoming release of her Pink Friday 2: Gag City Reloaded deluxe album with a mix of current and former pregnancy photos. The…
IT’S A WASH Channing Tatum slammed for his ‘disgusting’ and ‘wasteful’ laundry habit in failed ‘attempt to seem relatable’
Fans recently expressed concern for Channing after he shared several bizarre selfies online CHANNING Tatum has been slammed for his wasteful laundry habit in what critics have called a failed attempt to seem relatable. The Don’t Blink star opened up…
End of content
No more pages to load