Knicks acquire OG Anunoby from Raptors, say goodbye to two homegrown talents in blockbuster trade

By acquiring Anunoby, 26, the Knicks have added a legitimate wing defender to their roster who can thrive as a second option on offense. However, they have given up two talented young players to get the deal over the line. 

The Raptors are slowly rebuilding their roster around Scottie Barnes. Adding Barrett and Quickley to that rotation gives them three legitimate young players to anchor their young core. Still, Quickley's contract situation will need to be resolved as a matter of urgency if the Raptors are to avoid it becoming a distraction. Pascal Siakam is also still on the roster, and his presence provides an All-NBA-level talent to help keep the team competitive, at least for now. 

Both teams will likely feel like they got the better side of this deal. The Knicks will have another big body on the wing who can fit into Tom Thibodeau's defensive system, while Achiuwa will help solve some of the depth at center following Mitchell Robinson's season-ending injury. 

The Raptors may change their starting lineup to accommodate some of their new talent. In recent weeks, Barnes has been operating as a point guard, which has been bringing out the best of his perimeter play along with allowing him to get downhill. However, Quickley has the talent to be a legitimate off-ball threat and could slot into the shooting guard position alongside Barnes. 

With Toronto and New York residing in the same conference, we will get to see how these changes affect each team and the overall landscape of the East over the remainder of the season. For now, though, this deal makes sense for both sides.