Ex-Raptors OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa surprise absolutely no one with Knicks debut

Seeing former Toronto Raptors star OG Anunoby suit up in New York Knicks orange and blue, all while ditching his familiar No. 3 for a new No. 8, is something that will take some serious getting used to. The trade that brought him to Manhattan and RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto is still fresh for both fanbases.

While Anunoby had the misfortune of playing in one of the league's most invisible markets in Toronto, Raptors fans knew for years how underrated he was. In a bigger city like New York, Anunoby's skillset will be appreciated more by a segment of the NBA media that locks in on the Tri-State Area.

While many believe the Knicks paid a very hefty price to acquire Anunoby, he should have no trouble playing high-level basketball on both ends. Even after showing up just a few days after the deal was made official, Anunoby was excellent. Achiuwa, on the other hand, was another story.

Anunoby finished New York's 112-106 victory over one of the best teams in the league in the Minnesota Timberwolves with 17 points and six rebounds. Anunoby provided stellar on-ball defense while also going 3-6 from 3-point range. In other words, he was his usual self.

Ex-Raptors OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa perform as expected in Knicks debut

Outside of Nick Nurse, there may not be a coach who appreciates Anunoby's skillset quite like Ton Thibodeau. Anunoby can expect to be run into the ground this season, as his two-way skill and 3-point shooting will make him someone Thibodeau trusts to make big shots and get important stops.

Achiuwa, on the other hand, showed many of the same maddening traits that made him a frustrating evaluation with the Raptors. His talent is obvious, but his volatility produces nights that look quite similar to what his first action with the Knicks looked like.

A New York native, Achiuwa was scoreless in nine minutes, committing two personal fouls and missing both of his shots near the rim. After an embarrassing sequence that saw him subbed out of the game after two minutes on the floor following a Rudy Gobert poster, the Raptors' frustrations with him appear to have been vindicated.

The Knicks appear to have gotten everything they could have hoped for in the Anunoby trade, as he looks like an ideal player for Thibodeau's intense defense. Achiuwa, like he was for the majority of his Raptors and professional careers, is still a very athletic work in progress.

We'll see what happens with these players moving forward but for now, you can claim a $150 bonus from FanDuel Sportsbook with any $5 bet today! New users who bet $5 or more (with a $10 deposit) on any game will automatically receive $150 in bonus bets win or lose. Sign up for FanDuel now!