R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley talk about their relationship post-trade
Just before the turn of the calendar, the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors completed a trade that sent Immanuel Quickley, R.J. Barrett and a second-round pick to Toronto for OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn.
Both Quickley and Barrett discussed their strong friendship when both players spoke to Raptors media for the first time Monday.
“That is my brother right there,” Barrett said, according to Raptors beat writer Josh Lewenberg. “He’s going to come in and give you energy every single night. He’s going to play his butt off. He’s a team guy. He’s a hard worker… I’m going to take care of him, he’s got my back. It’s easier to come here with (him).”
“As soon as we got the word [of the trade,] he told me anything I need, to hit him up,” Quickley said about Barrett, according to John Chidley-Hill of CBC. “When I got to New York, RJ was one of the first guys that I got close with and then playing against him, U.S.A. versus Canada, has always been cool. Just having a brother like RJ is great.”
The trade made sense for both teams. The Knicks wanted someone who fit their scheme much better than RJ Barrett. Barrett doesn’t fit in part because of his contract; he’s in the first year of a four-year, $107 million deal, per Spotrac. He is also a ball-dominant player with inconsistent shooting in a lineup filled with Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson, who are the primary scorers.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau values spacing and defense, and that’s what OG Anunoby provides. He’s a wing who can play defense on all levels, but can also knock down 3-pointers. The Knicks will miss Immanuel Quickley, who was coming off the bench and can score on will. But Quickley is a free agent this season, and the Knicks don’t want to pay him a huge deal.
The trade made sense for the Raptors because they have been struggling with guard play since Fred VanVleet left in free agency. It also made sense because Anunoby has a player option at the end of this season, which he will probably decline and become a free agent. It was a surprise that the Raptors took only Barrett, Quickley and a second-rounder for Anunoby after rumors percolated last season that teams were offering as much as three first rounds for him ahead of the trade deadline.
The Raptors and Knicks both might not be done with trades this season. The Raptors have Pascal Siakam, who becomes a free agent after this season. The Knicks could use their draft capital in order to make a huge trade for a superstar in an attempt to put them in championship contention before the deadline.
Both teams’ future of both the Knicks and Raptors are uncertain. Will the Knicks make a big trade? Will the Raptors trade Siakam and try to rebuild? Let us know in the comments!
