Knicks guard OG Anunoby has opted out of his contract and entered free agency, according to multiple reports.
Anunoby signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Toronto Raptors in 2020 with a player option for the 2024-25 season. When he was acquired by the Toronto Knicks last season, New York inherited the terms of the deal but risked losing Anunoby as an unrestricted free agent.
The option was worth $19.9 million next season, and his next contract could easily exceed $35 million per season.
Health is the biggest question mark. Anunoby has missed a total of 76 games over the past three seasons due to injuries and did not play during Toronto’s 2019 NBA title run after an emergency appendectomy.
Anunoby will turn 27 next month. He averaged 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season in 50 total regular season games with the Raptors (27 games) and Knicks.
During the 2024 playoffs, Anunoby went from playing a vital role in beating the Philadelphia 76ers to trying to battle through a hamstring injury during the seven-game series with the Indiana Pacers.
In 418 career games, Anunoby averaged 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals during his first seven NBA seasons.
The Knicks are negotiating with unrestricted free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein, 26, in hopes of keeping him, but are limited to a maximum salary of $16.2 million per season. Hartenstein represents a more expensive option for teams looking to sign UConn’s 7-foot-2 center Donovan Clingan on Wednesday night.
NBA free agency begins Sunday.
News Source : www.espn.com
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