OG Anunoby’s Top Landing Spots After Mikal Bridges’ Rumored Trade to Knicks from Nets
OG Anunoby’s Top Landing Spots After Mikal Bridges’ Rumored Trade to Knicks from Nets0 of 3
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The New York Knicks have reportedly acquired Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges and a 2026 second-round pick for Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected picks (2025, 2027, 2029, 2031), a 2025 protected Milwaukee Bucks first-rounder, a 2028 unprotected pick swap and a 2025 second-rounder, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Naturally, this brings into question as to whether the Knicks will re-sign OG Anunoby, an impending free agent.
At this point, the top three landing spots for him seem to be the Knicks (despite the Bridges trade), the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
New York Knicks1 of 3
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If the Knicks re-sign Anunoby, they’d have four quality wings with him, Donte DiVincenzo, Bridges and Josh Hart.
There’s also the matter of money, as Anunoby (understandably) is looking to get paid handsomely ($40 million range), per Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. And there’s also the matter of him reportedly wanting a bigger offensive role, also per Fischer.
It’s unclear whether he’d get both in New York, but it is clear that the Knicks want him back.
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespnThe Knicks are still determined to keep OG Anunoby in free agency, sources tell ESPN, but the ability to resign center Isaiah Hartenstein becomes more difficult now. The Knicks are loading up on wings to match up with the NBA champion Boston Celtics.
Ian Begley @IanBegleyTold that Knicks’ trade for Mikal Bridges does not change their hope that they can re-sign free agent OG Anunoby. That remains a priority for the club.
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannixNew York intends to be aggressive in re-signing Anunoby, a source told @SInow. Bridges is not viewed as an OG replacement but another weapon in what could be a stingy Knicks defense. https://t.co/pNQ7L6WJ3E
And then Fred Katz of The Athletic added this note:
Fred Katz @FredKatzOne thought: A team that thinks it will lose OG Anunoby probably doesn’t trade away four unprotected first-round picks before free agency begins.
So we’ll see if the Knicks’ wishes come to fruition, but they’ll have competition.
Still, they were clearly far better with Anunoby than without him, and New York frankly lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Indiana Pacers in part because he was unavailable with a right hamstring strain.
A healthy Anunoby with Bridges now aboard could make the Knicks one of the NBA’s best teams.
Philadelphia 76ers2 of 3
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It appears the 76ers are looking to land Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George, but failing that, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype sees Anunoby as a potential Plan B.
“Should the Sixers whiff on George, trying to trade for Jimmy Butler or sign OG Anunoby to a short-term, higher market average annual salary free agent deal are also options,” he wrote.
The 76ers have the money to throw at Anunoby with Tobias Harris an impending free agent. There’s a max salary slot available for him to come aboard, and he’d be the team’s third scoring option and generally a tremendously valuable piece on both ends.
Obviously, the 76ers could also see this as a great opportunity to make an Eastern Conference rival weaker in the process as well.
At this juncture, it’s a rockfight to be a top-two team in the East alongside the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia could make a shrewd move here to put it in great position to be that team.
Oklahoma City Thunder3 of 3
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Only six NBA teams have less than $100 million on the 2024-25 salary-cap books. One of them is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who just finished first in the Western Conference regular-season standings.
OKC has already made one big move this offseason by acquiring Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls for Josh Giddey, a trade that makes this team better on defense and probably puts the squad in a better position for an NBA title.
Adding Anunoby would also improve the team’s defense, an important task given the litany of offensive superstars in the West, including one in Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić, who sent OKC home.
OKC has the money to throw at Anunoby. It’s just a matter of whether there’s mutual interest. From the Thunder side, it makes too much sense. Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman listed him as an “unlikely” free-agent target, citing the Knicks likely keeping him. But he did mention the great fit.
“I think Anunoby is the dream player for OKC in free agency,” he wrote. “He’s a 26-year-old wing who fits the timeline and can defend every position, but there’s no shot New York will let him slip away as it continues to chase a title.”
We’ll see if the Bridges trade changes anything, though, as the Knicks eye a championship.