NBA Rumors: Knicks have increased chance to steal wing from division rival

We’re still three weeks away from the 2023-24 regular season tip-off, so free agency isn’t a popular topic of conversation. For New York Knicks fans, the free agency market in 2024 isn’t as exciting as the stars that could be on the trade market, such as Joel Embiid or Donovan Mitchell.

In the past, New York notoriously struggled to land star players in free agency, so much so that playing for a large-market team in one of the most famous cities in the world wasn’t appealing enough for LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving (to name a few).

In 2022, the Knicks reversed course by signing Jalen Brunson to a four-year deal. The “overpaid” narrative was quickly erased once the point guard emerged as one of the best point guards in the conference.

LeBron, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George are three superstars who could all enter free agency next summer, but that trio could decide to stay in Los Angeles. While New York could be monitoring those three players, there is a younger name the front office should have high on their list instead.

NBA insider Marc Stein reports Knicks division rival OG Anunoby will test free agency

OG Anunoby has a $19.9 million player option for 2024-25 that he could decline next summer to become an unrestricted free agent. According to Marc Stein (subscription required), the 26-year-old wing is expected to test free agency in hopes of landing a nine-figure contract.

Masai Ujiri and the Raptors are playing a risky game. Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, and Gary Trent Jr. could all be free agents in 2024, and Toronto fans watched Fred VanVleet walk in free agency a few months ago after the front office stood pat at the trade deadline.

Anunoby’s name has popped up in trade rumors for a couple of years, and New York reportedly reached out to Toronto last December about him. Given the lawsuit the Knicks filed against the Raptors a few weeks ago, don’t expect Toronto to engage with New York in trade talks for Anunoby if Ujiri does make him available before the 2024 trade deadline.

If Anunoby plays himself into the contract he wants, his price tag could be too high for New York if he enters free agency. Still, he has been on the Knicks’ radar, and it’s worth noting he left Klutch Sports for CAA this summer. With Leon Rose at the helm, New York has a history of going after CAA clients in free agency, so will OG Anunoby be the next?

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• Published on 10/07/2023 at 5:00 PM EDT
• Last updated on 10/07/2023 at 5:00 PM EDT