According to NBA reporter Fred Katz of The Athletic, the New York Knicks are “confident” they will re-sign OG Anunoby.
Jalen Brunson could also sign an extension with the Knicks this offseason.
New York acquired Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, but the franchise still wants to bring Anunoby back.
“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.
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.
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.
Brunson is not super max eligible because he signed a free-agent contract with the Knicks in July 2022. The lefty signed a four-year, $104 million contract with New York.
Brunson will make $24.9 million next season. He averaged 28.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists for the Knicks in 2023-24 while shooting 47.9% from the field, 40.1% from beyond the arc and 84.7% from the free-throw line.
Brunson fractured his left hand in Game 7 against the Pacers. He finished the 2024 playoffs with averages of 32.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists.
Brunson has career averages of 16.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists with the Dallas Mavericks and Knicks. He was the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Villanova.
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