Former Raptors Wing OG Anunoby's Free Agency Future isn't 'Cut and Dried'

OG Anunoby is not guaranteed to be heading back to the New York Knicks after being traded away by the Toronto Raptors earlier this year

Jan 20, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors forwards Scottie Barnes (4) and Chris Boucher (25) and guard Gradey Dick (1) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

OG Anunoby's return to the New York Knicks is supposedly no guarantee.

It seemed like a foregone conclusion when the Toronto Raptors traded the 26-year-old earlier this year that Anunoby would re-sign with the Knicks once he entered unrestricted free agency this summer. A team would rarely give up so much in a trade without some sort of assurance that Anunoby would at least be open to re-signing and the fact that Anunoby's agent Sam Rose is the son of New York's president Leon Rose wasn't lost on anyone.

But apparently it's not so simple.

"There was word circling among team officials at last week’s NBA Draft Combine that Anunoby’s situation with the Knicks is not as cut and dried," Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports wrote. "Various teams left Chicago with the belief that Anunoby could reach unrestricted free agency and consider deals from other franchises in addition to New York, sources said."

This had been Toronto's fear ealier this year and what led to the organization trading Anunoby in the first place. Due to restrictions in the collective bargaining agreement, Anunoby was prohibited from signing an extension worth more than $117 million over four years, a number he'll far exceed in free agency this summer.

It's unclear where Anunoby will end up if he doesn't re-sign with New York. The Philadelphia 76ers have the cap space and are reportedly interested in pursuing Anunoby this summer, per SNY's Ian Begley.

Toronto could be among the teams with cap space this summer if the organization parts ways with Gary Trent Jr. and Bruce Brown. That would leave the Raptors with just under $30 million in space to use this summer, but that's not going to be enough to sign Anunoby who'll likely see a contract that exceeds that amount in annual value. Toronto would have to find a way to move Chris Boucher without taking back salary to have any shot at pursuing Anunoby this summer.