The New York Knicks (18-15) executed a stunning trade this past Saturday, sending RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, along with a 2024 second-round pick to the Toronto Raptors for OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn.
While parting ways with key members of their young core could be risky, Anunoby — who led the NBA in steals last season — is a clear upgrade for a Knicks team struggling defensively. Additionally, the deal paves the way to bring in a star in the future, but the Knicks can’t afford to miss the mark on whoever that may be.
In the meantime, here are three players New York should target to get the most out of the Anunoby acquisition.
DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
With the lack of clarity surrounding the current trade market, it’s difficult to predict whether Knicks president Leon Rose will be able to (or should try to) pull off his long-awaited big splash mid-season. Nonetheless, trading for DeRozan, an impending free agent, could be an advantageous move to elevate the team’s ceiling while New York waits for its long-term answer at shooting guard.
Sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 15-19 record, the Chicago Bulls could finally decide to be sellers at the Feb. 8 trade deadline. DeRozan, 34, seems like the likeliest Bull to be on his way out of town and would prefer to be traded to the Miami Heat or the Knicks, per The Athletic’s Sam Amick. Although the six-time All-Star is off to his worst start to a season with Chicago, his averages of 22.2 points, 5.4 assists and 34.5% shooting from three-point range all exceed his career marks.
Cost-wise, DeRozan shouldn’t command too much in a deal, but that could be subject to change depending on which teams get involved and the direction Chicago plans to head in. Perhaps some of New York’s draft capital and shooting guard Evan Fournier’s expiring deal could appeal to Chicago as the centerpiece of a DeRozan trade. And if it’s still unclear which star the Knicks ultimately intend to pursue by the time free agency rolls around, re-signing DeRozan on a short-term deal could be a viable interim solution.
Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks
In light of NBA insider Marc Stein’s recent report that the Knicks “do not intend to mount an all-out pursuit of” Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, Murray might be the most prominent player they could consider targeting. Following last Saturday’s Anunoby trade, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that the team plans to continue being active on the trade market, and Murray is someone it has an interest in acquiring.
Atlanta is off to a rocky 13-19 start after last season’s deflating first-round exit from the playoffs, though Murray has been effective. The 27-year-old is averaging 20.5 points, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals this season while shooting from distance at his best since his 38-game rookie season (38.3%). Even so, since Murray’s production hasn’t translated into wins, Atlanta may opt to recoup some of the draft capital it spent to acquire him in June of 2022, which consisted of three first-round picks and forward Danilo Gallinari.
Given that the backcourt pairing of Murray and Trae Young has been largely unsuccessful, it’s fair to question whether the former would be a fit alongside another small guard in Jalen Brunson. However, New York has a more talented supporting cast than Atlanta which also complements Murray’s skill set, especially if he’s able to shoot at his current clip from beyond the arc. Not to mention that Murray’s 6-foot-5 frame might be better suited next to Brunson than 6-foot-3 Mitchell for defensive purposes.
Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers
While the idea of adding Brogdon might not seem like a needle mover, it’s hard to deny that he would fit in nicely on New York’s roster after it traded away Quickley. Despite Miles McBride’s recent three-year, $13 million extension, the third-year guard’s lack of offensive capabilities makes it tough to trust him to create shots for himself and other members of the Knicks’ second unit.
Brogdon has been asked to wear many different hats during his eight-year career and has been a seamless fit for each of the four teams he has played for. The 2017 Rookie of the Year edged out Quickley for last season’s Sixth Man of the Year Award after averaging 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Boston Celtics while shooting a career-high 44.4% from three.
This season, Brogdon has appeared in 25 games, including 16 starts for Portland, averaging 16.2 points and a team-leading 5.7 assists, which could prompt the Blazers to flip him at the trade deadline. According to Scotto, league executives believe Brogdon is worth a protected first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Injuries are a concern, considering Brogdon hasn’t played in at least 70 games since his rookie season, but his high IQ, defense and three-point shooting more than compensate for it.
