Breaking Down NBA Trade Grades OG Anunoby To The Knicks…
The market is beginning to heat up, the NBA trade deadline is approaching, and a prominent player has been dealt in trade talks.
The NBA saw a major upheaval after James Harden’s trade from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Los Angeles Clippers in late October. The New York Knicks acquired guard Malachi Flynn, forward OG Anunoby, and center Precious Achiuwa from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for guard Immanuel Quickley, forward RJ Barrett, and a 2024 second-round pick (via Detroit).
Could Anunoby’s arrival, an All-Defensive second team wing, have an effect on the Knicks’ chances of making a deep playoff run this season? What could Barrett’s return to Toronto and Quickley’s recent hot shooting mean for the Raptors’ future?
READ MORE:
Potential Raptors fire sale could create savvy trade opportunity for Lakers…
The New York Knicks acquired OG Anunoby, Malachi Flynn, and Precious Achiuwa from the Toronto Raptors for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a future second-round pick on Saturday, in what was reportedly the first major trade of the 2023–24 season. The Los Angeles Lakers may be directly impacted by this first domino to fall.
Since the In-Season Tournament, the Lakers have had difficulties, and LeBron James has been outspoken about the team’s situation. It would be shocking if the Lakers didn’t add someone to the rotation this season through trade at this point.
It looks like a fire sale is taking place up north after Toronto traded one of its best players to the Knicks. In order to strengthen the rotation this season, the Lakers may be able to take advantage of the situation by making a cheap trade for a sharpshooter.
Gary Trent Jr. could be a home run trade target for the Lakers
Gary Trent Jr.’s contract with Toronto is about to expire, so it makes sense for the Raptors to get something out of him if the team decides not to re-sign him (toronto will now need to pay RJ Barrett and probably re-sign Immanuel Quickley).
Trent had a difficult start to the season despite being one of the league’s best three-point shooters in recent years. The Lakers may be able to acquire him for a low cost because of his struggles and the fact that his contract is about to expire. The exchange might appear like this:
D’Angelo Russell does not have a long-term future with the Lakers, as evidenced by the way the team has treated him. It would be shocking if he wasn’t traded before the deadline at this rate.
In this deal, the main prize for the Raptors would be Jalen Hood-Schifino and the two second-round picks. Russell is thrown into the deal to make the money work and he may not even last past this season as he has a player option for the 2024-25 season. Even if he opts into his deal, he would be future trade fodder for Toronto as an expiring contract next season.
Russell doesn’t really have a place on this Raptors team with Quickley, Scottie Barnes and Dennis Schroder on the roster, so it would not even be surprising if he waived his player option early to work out a buyout. Regardless, the only reason he is in the deal is to make the money work.
Without him, the Lakers would probably be alright. The team will have a guard to play the point when Gabe Vincent eventually returns because they aren’t starting a point guard anyhow. Trent would join the team and provide the Lakers with a much-needed perimeter shooting presence. He has also proven to be a capable defensive player.
Trent is a client of Klutch Sports, which adds to the intrigue of this situation. Since LeBron arrived in Los Angeles, it has been abundantly evident that Klutch has an impact on the decisions made by the Lakers. Trent’s chances of being a Lakers trade target increase as a result.