OG Anunoby is in the news now for yet another clutch shot during Game Four of the NBA Finals, in what is described as the greatest single-game comeback in NBA Finals history.
Although I just touched on how he has always been this clutch, the Raptors decided to move on from OG Anunoby in 2023, trading him alongside Malachi Flynn, and Precious Achiuwa to the Knicks in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 Detroit second-round pick that eventually became Jonathan Mogbo. Anunoby had been pining for more offensive responsibility, and the Raptors were pining for cheaper contracts.
Let’s start the analysis off with the Knicks. The two other pieces sent to the Knicks have since both left in free agency; Flynn would bounce around a few different teams before signing with the Bahçeşehir Koleji of the Basketbol Süper Ligi in Türkiye, while Precious Achiuwa would walk following the 2024-2025 season and sign a one-year veteran minimum deal with the Sacramento Kings. (Where he did almost single-handedly give Toronto one of its worst losses of its season.)
However, Anunoby has been a major bright spot on this team. His 3-and-D style has been great for the Knicks this series, going 5-5 from beyond the arc in the second half of Game Four alone. As mentioned in my previous analysis of Anunoby’s clutch shot, Anunoby served as the perfect player to kick out to in multiple moments during the second half.
Not to mention his defence. He is one of the most versatile and impactful defenders in the league from the wing spot, and his clutch blocks on De’Aaron Fox have been just as impactful as his shooting in these Finals.
Shifting over to the Raptors, they got a lot out of Anunoby, who was a high-value piece on a team that wouldn’t even crack 30 wins by the end of the year. This allowed them to gain value on a young forward and completely restart from the ground up, and a few years later, make the playoffs.
In that deal, the team got both its starting small forward and point guard in the deal — who have played some of their best basketball since arriving in Toronto, despite dealing with some injury concerns. Barrett especially has changed his game as a Raptor. Mogbo has mainly served as a bench player since arriving in Toronto, but he did start in 18 games in his first year.
And Barrett, of course, had a game-winner of his own this season.
All in all, I think both teams got a pretty good return out of this deal. The Knicks got a player that would become highly effective in their first Finals run since 1999, and the Raptors were able to begin a complete rebuild by getting two pieces of their core.
