OG Anunoby Expected To Return To Knicks, Could Get $35 Million Annually

According to NBA insiders Michael Scotto (HoopsHype), Ian Begley (SNY) and Stefan Bondy (New York Post), OG Anunoby is expected to return to the New York Knicks. 

Anunoby, who is expected to decline his 2024-25 player option and enter unrestricted free agency, could get a deal that pays him $35 million a year. 

“The leaguewide expectation is that OG Anunoby will return to the Knicks,” Scotto said. “The question is, for how much? From executives I’ve talked to around the league, Anunoby’s floor appears to be $35 million, and his ceiling is a max contract. Philadelphia will be looking for a 3-and-D small forward and has the max cap space to make the offer if they believe they’ll miss out on their top target, Paul George. Two general managers told me they’d pay Anunoby $35 million annually and that a max would be tough because of his injury history.”

Anunoby played 23 games for the Knicks after being acquired from the Toronto Raptors. The NBA champion averaged 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks with New York while shooting 48.8% from the field, 39.4% from beyond the arc and 79.1% from the free-throw line. 

“If they go well beyond $35 million, it’s going to be because of Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, or another team with cap space coming in with a significant offer that forces the Knicks to exceed that,” Begley said. “I think that’s around where you’d expect it, but if there’s a curveball there and Daryl Morey comes in and throws a big offer at Anunoby that forces the Knicks to go over the top, I think they have to because of what they gave up in the deal to get Anunoby here. They’re committed to having him here long-term. If I had to guess, I think there would be some injury protections in the deal or some stipulation with games played.”

The Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs in seven games.

New York went 20-3 with Anunoby in the lineup in the regular season. 

“One x-factor in the Anunoby sweepstakes is Paul George,” Bondy said. “If George doesn’t go to Philadelphia or Oklahoma City, those two teams will have to spend their money to get somebody. Anunoby is an attractive piece to bring to those two teams. It depends on the market, but I’d be very surprised if the Knicks don’t bring Anunoby back one way or another. If I’m the Knicks, I’m attaching incentives to games played because of his injury history, as you mentioned, Mike. A lot of that is on what the competition is offering. The bottom line is I’d be very surprised if Anunoby doesn’t come back to the Knicks.”

Anunoby has career averages of 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Raptors and Knicks. He’s one of the best two-way players in the NBA.