Forward OG Anunoby intends to sign a five-year, $212.5 million contract to return to the New York Knicks, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The news comes one day after the Knicks agreed to a trade for Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges.
Anunoby played 23 games for the Knicks after being acquired from the Toronto Raptors. He 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.
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.
According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, All-Star guard Jalen Brunson could also sign an extension with the Knicks this offseason.
“But the Knicks remain confident that they can re-sign Anunoby, according to a league source,” Katz wrote. “If they do, he and Bridges would form one of the league’s most smothering defensive duos on the perimeter. Rank the NBA’s 3-and-D wings, and you won’t have to count long before naming both of those stoppers.
“On top of that, Brunson is still considering signing an extension this summer, according to a league source. If he were the sign it, he’d be agreeing to a contract that would pay him far less than a max would if waited until 2025 free agency to sign one.”
The Knicks went 50-32 in 2023-24. They beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round.
(Ashish Mathur contributed to this report.)
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
