Philadelphia 76ers Targeting Former NBA Champion?

After joining the Knicks in a trade in December, Anunoby made a big impact on the team. In 23 games played with the Knicks, Anunoby averaged 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. Additionally, he shot 48.8% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. In the regular season, the Knicks went 20-3 in games the former Toronto Raptors wing played.

Anunoby has a $20 million player option that kicks in this offseason. Currently, according to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, Anunoby is expected to decline his player option and become an unrestricted free agent.

Philadelphia 76ers Targeting Former NBA Champion?

What OG Anunoby Would Bring to the Sixers

Anunoby has made a career as a good, two-way player who can impact the game at every level. Although his offensive game is solid, Anunoby truly makes his presence felt as a defender. Furthermore, he brings good energy and can fit with most teams as a starting small forward. Plus, if he joins the Sixers, Anunoby would reunite with former head coach Nick Nurse, who he won a championship with in Toronto in 2019.

In January, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau praised Anunoby’s game, calling him a “unique” player.

“I think, also his knowledge of the league and the people that he’s guarding, and also what the teams are trying to do. So I think he when you combine all of those characteristics, his ability to think on his feet, his size, his, you know, his strength, his quickness, his ability to get around screens and that sort of thing. It’s pretty unique.”

Additionally, Anunoby has made an impact off the court, according to Thibodeau.

“You always have observations from coaching against someone, but there’s a lot of subtleties to their game that maybe you don’t actually see,” Thibodeau said. “… Just the way he interacts with his teammates, how he is as a person, you don’t really know that part, but he’s been great.

The Last Word

Anunoby is a good player who has excelled in his most recent role with the Knicks. With the team’s season having ended less than a week ago, it is too early to determine whether Anunoby will remain in New York past this summer. However, it is clear re-signing him should be one of the Knicks’ top priorities this offseason. Otherwise, he may join a divisional rival and excel there.