OG Anunoby was one of the more pleasant surprises In the New York Knicks’ solid (albeit disappointing) season. The Indiana product managed to step into the RJ Barrett-sized hole and add offense and defense to a team that badly needed help on the wing.
With such a solid performance, it was expected that the Knicks would try everything they could to convince the London-born forward to pick up his player option and continue with the Knicks. After all, a player with Anunoby’s production would be sought after in free agency.
Unfortunately for Knicks fans who hoped their warm welcome was enough to convince Anunoby to guarantee one more year of basketball, he’s taking a page off an old teammate’s playbook and is betting on himself.
OG Anunoby rejects player option with the New York Knicks, to enter free agency
The Athletic’s Fred Katz reported that the 26-year-old forward officially declined his player option, a move that everyone in the Knicks organization expected he would do:
OG Anunoby has declined his $19.9 million player option for next season, a league source tells The Athletic, an expected move. Anunoby will now officially become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Free agency begins June 30.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) June 24, 2024
Katz provided more context on how the situation is faring between Anunoby and the Knicks, per Sportscasting’s James Foglio:
An NBA executive recently said Anunoby is holding the Knicks “by the balls,” per The Athletic’s Fred Katz.
“They can’t lose him, the same way [Pascal] Siakam’s getting the max from [the] Indiana [Pacers]. You can’t trade for somebody, give so much up and then let him go. It’s not feasible,” the source told Katz.
It’s hard to find a capable player like Anunoby. Despite missing 76 games over the last three seasons, he’s proven to be a reliable two-way player that almost every NBA team would pay good money to acquire.
Now that Anunoby is open for any team to acquire, the Knicks may find themselves in a bidding war if they want to keep him on the roster for the 2024-25 campaign.
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