OG Anunoby was a game-changer for the New York Knicks this past season. His mid-season move from the Toronto Raptors paid major dividends for the Knicks and their semi-remarkable postseason run.
A testament to this fact is how New York struggled in the latter part of their second-round series against the Indiana Pacers with Anunoby sidelined with injury.
As it turns out, the Knicks might be forced to find a more permanent replacement for the 26-year-old amid uncertainty surrounding his future in New York.
New York Knicks News: OG Anunoby Leaving in Free Agency?
NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports recently shed light on Anunoby’s current situation with the Knicks. According to Fischer, the 6-foot-7 small forward is “widely expected to decline” his player option for 2024-25. This is under the premise that he will be looking to earn more than the $19.9 million he is set to pocket next season, and the only way he can do this is if he secures a bigger deal in free agency.
Apparently, Anunoby re-signing with the Knicks this summer is NOT a lock:
“There was word circling among team officials at last week’s NBA Draft Combine that Anunoby’s situation with the Knicks is not as cut and dried. Perhaps those signals to rival teams will only help Anunoby elicit a larger dollar figure from the Knicks. But various teams left (the Draft Combine) with the belief that Anunoby could reach unrestricted free agency and consider deals from other franchises in addition to New York, sources said,” Fischer wrote.
The good news for the Knicks is that they still appear to have the inside track in the race to sign Anunoby. The bad news, however, is that the one-time NBA champ will be entertaining offers from opposing teams, which at the very least, might compel New York to pay a higher premium to retain his services.
The worst case for the Knicks, though, is if Anunoby ends up signing a new contract with a different team, leaving New York with nothing to show for.
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