The Toronto Raptors sent the NBA world into a state of complete panic on Saturday afternoon, as they remade their roster by trading star forward OG Anunoby to the rival New York Knicks for a package headlined by high-scoring forward RJ Barrett and two-way guard Immanuel Quickley.
Quickley being included in these talks just a few days after it seemed like there was no way New York would part ways with him is a bit stunning. Raptors fans likely won't complain, as they moved off a player who was on an expiring contract and acquired two extremely promising scorers who could thrive in expanded roles in Canada.
With Toronto seemingly willing to go into the trade deadline without having made a trade until someone met their asking price, the fact an OG trade moved so rapidly was a bit of a system shock to all involved. Quickley felt the brunt of it, as he will trade in that iconic Knicks blue and orange for the Raptors' chevron.
Quickley tweeted "Oh my goodness...." after the news went down. When coupled with former Knicks teammate Josh Hart's own surprised reaction, it was clear that no one in the locker room saw this move coming.
Oh my goodness….
— Immanuel Jaylen Quickley (@IQ_GodSon) December 30, 2023
Immanuel Quickley surprised by trade to Toronto Raptors in OG Anunoby deal.
While Barrett might be the biggest piece heading to Toronto in the deal, given his pedigree and scoring skill, it would be foolish to overlook Quickley. The former Kentucky star is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, which could help him stay in Toronto long-term.
Even though he is only playing around 24 minutes per game this season, Quickley is averaging 15.0 points per game on improved efficiency. The Knicks are a much better team when he is on the floor, a stat that seems to have been lost on Tom Thibodeau.
The Raptors could roll out a lineup of Quickley at point guard, Barrett and Barnes on the wings, and Siakam and Poeltl on the interior. The spacing, offensive creativity, and baseline scoring skill will be much improved, even if the defense could take a step back without Anunoby in the fold.
Getting traded is hard, as Quickley now needs to pack up all his things, leave New York, and cross the border for what could be a multi-year partnership. Once the initial shock subsides, Quickley will join a new-look young team where he will be empowered like never before on offense.