New York Knicks make trade with team they're suing

The Toronto Raptors are sending OG Anunoby, Malachi Flynn, and Precious Achiuwa to the New York Knicks in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a Detroit Pistons second-round pick. The Athletic’s NBA insider Shams Charania was the first to report the full details of the trade.

Anunoby has been linked to potential trades as early as the summer of 2022. The Raptors small forward is having the second-best shooting season of his career, averaging 48.9 percent from the field on 11.9 attempts. He is also a strong defender, one season removed from a career-high 1.9 steals per game. Anunoby has a $19.9 million player’s option in the 2024-2025 season, likely signaling the Knicks will need to extend him before the offseason.

The trade did nothing to alter New York’s championship odds.

Barrett, who was born in Toronto, signed a four-year, $107 million rookie extension with the Knicks this past offseason. The shooting guard was averaging a career-low 29.5 minutes per game this season, posting his worst shooting numbers in two years.

Quickley is beginning a breakout scoring season, averaging career highs in points (15), two-point percentage (54.9 percent), and three-point percentage (39.5 percent).

The fourth-year shooting guard will look to fit alongside Raptors’ third-year playmaker Scottie Barnes, building a young backcourt as the cornerstone of a competitive rebuild. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Quickley will be a restricted free agent in 2024.

Back in March, Achiuwa and Flynn were part of the cringe-worthy Women’s History Month tribute video.

As for the teams, the Knicks are currently suing the Raptors after a former New York video employee Ikechukwu Azotam illegally provided Toronto with more than 3,000 confidential files. The files allegedly included video scouting reports, play frequency files, a prep book for the 2022-2023 season, and opposition research, according to ESPN.

Toronto may countersue for defamation.