Anunoby, 26, has spent seven seasons with the Raptors after the team drafted him with the 23rd pick in 2017. He’s averaged 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 27 games this season.
The Knicks are waiving swingman DaQuan Jeffries to create roster space for this trade, league sources said. Jeffries was on a non-guaranteed contract. Contracts for him and guard Ryan Arcidiacono were set to become guaranteed if they were not waived by Jan 7.
The Knicks are trading RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and one second-round pick to the Raptors for OG Anunoby, sources said. https://t.co/0z3pGcqd5e
At 12-19, it was clear that the trio of Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes was not going to succeed, at least with the talent the Raptors have around them. Anunoby has a player option he will likely decline to become a free agent, while Siakam is also a free agent this summer.
While Anunoby is younger and therefore fits a timeline centered on Barnes much better than the 29-year-old Siakam, his ability to shoot and defend at a high level made him extremely attractive to any number of contenders. With Anunoby heading for a huge raise, Toronto couldn’t run the risk of losing him in the offseason for nothing. — Eric Koreen, Raptors staff writer
Why this particular deal?
The Raptors were reportedly offered multiple first-round picks by multiple teams for Anunoby last year before the trade deadline when they surprised many by adding to instead of subtracting from their roster. This move gives them two players who are proven rotation players for a good team. Barrett comes home and should slide into Anunoby’s starting forward spot.
The downgrade in shooting is real, with him, Barnes and Siakam both thriving in the paint.
But this likely isn’t the last move for Toronto. Quickley is arguably the bigger get for the Raptors. He is a restricted free agent after the season and will be due a big raise. However, the Raptors have no depth at guard and a combo guard who is proficient from 3 — Quickley is shooting 39.5 percent this year — is perfect next to Barnes, who is transitioning into the team’s lead ball-handler.
As importantly: Barrett and Quickley are 23 and 24. Barnes is 22. — Koreen
How the deal helps New York
The Knicks have long been on the prowl for a big wing — and not just any big wing. In fact, they’ve pursued Anunoby since before last season’s trade deadline, offering multiple first-round picks to Toronto for him, sources told The Athletic at the time. The Raptors, however, were not entertaining offers for him as seriously then as they did now.
The 6-foot-7 Anunoby is in the midst of another superb defensive season after sliding into All-Defense a season ago. He gives New York more 3-point shooting in its starting lineup, too, considering he’s a more reliable threat than Barrett is from deep.
Flynn has a chance to earn backup point guard minutes with Quickley heading to Toronto.
Anunoby has become even more of a Knicksian target of late, as well. Last season, he switched representation from Klutch Sports to CAA, where current Knicks president Leon Rose once ran the basketball division. New York has gone after CAA clients ever since Rose and his right hand, William Wesley, took over the front office, signing Jalen Brunson, drafting Obi Toppin, trading for Josh Hart, extending Julius Randle and making other CAA-related moves.
One of Anunoby’s reps at CAA is Sam Rose, Leon Rose’s son. Sam also represents Brunson, Toppin and Toppin’s brother, Jacob, who is on a two-way contract with New York. — Fred Katz, Knicks staff writer
Why the Knicks included Barrett, Quickley
Ask around New York’s front office over the years, and you’ll receive mixed reviews on Barrett, the fifth-year, 23-year-old wing who the Knicks drafted No. 3 in 2019. Some people bet on his strength and character. A player with that talent level, who works as hard as Barrett does and cares about the right parts of the game will eventually figure it out, they believe.
Others point to the inefficiency, the problems scoring around the rim, the lack of the jump shot and the occasional tunnel vision that can plague Barrett’s game.
One of Barrett’s big-time supporters in the front office, former general manager Scott Perry, parted ways with the Knicks this summer. Now, he heads to the team he grew up rooting for, a sure dream for one of Canada’s best basketball players — though Barrett always embraced being a Knick.
As for Quickley, the writing had been on the wall for a while. The energetic guard finished second in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting last season, but he and the team could not come to terms on an extension before the deadline to do so this past autumn. The result means Quickley will become a restricted free agent next summer.
The Knicks were concerned about paying Quickley too much money for someone in his role, one which has reduced in 2023-24, when he is playing five fewer minutes a night than he did in 2022-23. There are people around the league who contend that if Quickley got his own team, he would become a breakout candidate. For all four years of his career, the Knicks have been better while he is on the floor. Meanwhile, his usage, efficiency and scoring are all up this season.
Now, Toronto is the team that will give him that opportunity. — Katz
The French league’s legal commission has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé the 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages that he claims he’s entitled to, the league said Thursday.
The league confirmed the decision to The Associated Press without more details, a day after the France superstar rejected a mediation offer by the commission in his dispute with his former club.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former football star Reggie Bush was at his Encino home Tuesday night when three male suspects attempted to break in, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
“Everyone is safe,” Bush said in a text message to the newspaper.
The Los Angeles Police Dept. told the Times that a resident of the house reported hearing a window break and broken glass was found outside. Police said nothing was stolen and that three male suspects dressed in black were seen leaving the scene.
Bush starred at Southern California and in the NFL. The former running back was reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner this year. He forfeited it in 2010 after USC was hit with sanctions partly related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports marketers.
VANCOUVER – A fresh face has been gracing the B.C. Lions‘ highlight reels in recent weeks.
Midway through his second CFL campaign, wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt has contributed touchdowns in two consecutive games.
The 26-year-old wide receiver from Loveland, Colo., was the lone B.C. player to reel in a passing major in his team’s 37-23 victory over the league-leading Montreal Alouettes last Friday. The week before, he notched his first CFL touchdown in the Lions’ win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been really good,” Eberhardt said of his recent play. “At the end of the day, the biggest stat to me is if we win. But who doesn’t love scoring?”
He’ll look to add to the tally Friday when the Leos (7-6) host the Toronto Argonauts.
Eberhardt signed with B.C. as a free agent in January 2023 and spent much of last season on the practice squad before cementing a role on the roster this year.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound University of Wyoming product has earned more opportunities in his second season, said Lions’ head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell.
“He’s a super hard worker and very smart. He understands, has high football IQ, as we call it,” Campbell said.
The fact that Eberhardt can play virtually every receiving position helps.
“He could literally go into a game and we could throw him into a spot and he’d know exactly what he’s doing,” the coach said. “That allows him to play fast and earn the quarterback’s trust. And you see him making plays.”
Eberhardt credited his teammates, coaches and the rest of the Lions’ staff with helping him prepare for any situation he might face. They’ve all spent time teaching him the ins and outs of the Canadian game, or go over the playbook and run routes after practice, he said.
“I’ve played every single position on our offence in a game in the last two years, which is kind of crazy. But I love playing football,” he said. “I want to play any position that the team needs me to play.”
While B.C.’s lineup is studded with stars like running back William Stanback — who has a CFL-high 938 rushing yards — and wide receiver Justin McInnis — who leads the league in both receiving yards (1,074) and receiving TDs (seven) — versatility has been a critical part of the team’s back-to-back wins.
“I think we’ve got a lot of talented guys who deserve to get the ball and make big plays when they have the ball in their hands. So it’s really my job to get them the ball as much as possible,” said quarterback Nathan Rourke.
“I think that makes it easy when you can lean on those guys and, really, we’re in a situation where anyone can have a big game. And I think that’s a good place to be.”
Even with a talented lineup, the Lions face a tough test against an eager Argos side.
Toronto lost its second straight game Saturday when it dropped a 41-27 decision to Ottawa.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Rourke said. “We’ll have to adjust on the fly to whatever their game plan is. And no doubt, they’ll be ready to go so we’ll have to be as well.”
The two sides have already met once this season when the Argos handed the Lions a 35-27 loss in Toronto back on June 9.
A win on Friday would vault B.C. to the top of the West Division standings, over the 7-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are on a bye week.
Collecting that victory isn’t assured, though, even with Toronto coming in on a two-game skid, Campbell said.
“They’ve hit a little bit of a rut, but they’re a really good team,” he said. “They’re very athletic. And you can really see (quarterback Chad Kelly’s) got zip on the ball. When you see him in there, he can make all the throws. So we’re expecting their best shot.”
TORONTO ARGONAUTS (6-6) AT B.C. LIONS (7-6)
Friday, B.C. Place
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Lions boast a 4-1 home record this season, including a 38-12 victory over the Redblacks at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C., on Aug. 31. The Argos have struggled outside of BMO Field and hold a 1-5 away record. Trips to the West Coast haven’t been easy for Toronto in recent years — since 2003, the club is 4-14 in road games against B.C.
CENTURION: B.C. defensive back Garry Peters is set to appear in his 100th consecutive game. The 32-year-old from Conyers, Ga., is a two-time CFL all-star who has amassed 381 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles and 16 interceptions over seven seasons. “Just being on the field with the guys every day, running around, talking trash back and forth, it keeps me young,” Peters said. “It makes me feel good, and my body doesn’t really feel it. I’ve been blessed to be able to play 100 straight.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
