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- Updated: January 11, 2024
Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, both still young and with bright futures, may end up proving the Raptors got the better end of the deal with the Knicks. (AP Photo/Chris Young)
The minute the OG Anunoby trade went down, Knicks fans all over were looking like that grimacing emoji, simultaneously excited but pensive about what had just happened.
Sure, Tom Thibodeau got his man, one of the best wing defenders in the league and a guy who can help take the Knicks to the next level. New York wants to get home court advantage in the playoffs, advance to the second round and make some noise. OG will help them do that.
But giving up Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett could end up being a steep price to pay.
Quickley, 24 years old, and Barrett, still just 23, have bright futures ahead of them. Several NBA pundits agree that Quickley could end up being the best player in the trade. And there’s no doubt that Barrett, the 3rd overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, could be, though it seems many around the league have given up on him.
Barrett, who was born and raised in Toronto, is home, and he’ll have the chance to build on what he’s shown he can do with the Knicks, on a team loaded with young talent.
He scored 37 in his fourth game with the Raptors (Jan. 7), leading the way in a 133-107 win over Golden State (not that impressive because everybody’s beating the Warriors these days, but still).
Quickley, on the other hand, now has the chance to start and get some real run after averaging just over 20 minutes per game this season with Thibs’ Knicks. He had 26 points and 5 assists in a win over the Grizzlies in his second game in Toronto, and put up at least 20 three more times.
The backcourt duo, paired with Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam (if the Raptors keep him), could make up a pretty good young team. Those play-in spots are up for grabs in the East, and after this trade, the Raptors (15-22 entering Wednesday’s game with the Clippers) should feel like they are in the driver’s seat to grab one of them.
This team is better than the Nets, probably better than the Hawks and arguably better than the Bulls.
Whether or not Masai Ujiri wants his Raps to grab a play-in spot is another discussion, although pulling a Mark Cuban may not make sense because this year’s draft doesn’t appear to have many franchise-changing players.
While they were with the Knicks, Barrett and Quickley were two major reasons fans were excited about the future. Remember, Jalen Brunson wasn’t around when Bing Bong first became a thing.
Now they’ve got a chance to start over, make their way again and earn their keep as catalysts for another up-and-coming young team.
The Knicks got the OG, but the Raptors have, as Patrick Beverly called them, some young pups.
It may not be long until Quickley and Barrett prove they’ve got that dog in them, and until fans realize that Toronto won this trade.
