New York Knicks news: OG Anunoby’s new contract could have a surprising but smart incentive

A notable New York Knicks insider expects the team to re-sign forward OG Anunoby this summer but believes the team will add some key incentives to help protect them long-term.

After an impressive 2023-24 campaign that saw the team finish with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference standings, the Knicks will surely look to make moves this summer that can help bring the franchise its first championship since 1973. However, there will be one major priority: Re-signing OG Anunoby.

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The 26-year-old made a huge impact when he joined the team in late December and when he was on the court during the regular season they were one of the elite squads in the league. However, the massive success of that trade comes just in time for Anunoby and his jump into NBA free agency. The forward already had many admirers around the NBA but his stint with New York showed the difference he can make for a contending team.

That is why the Knicks will have competition for his services on the open market, and rivals the Philadelphia 76ers are expected to be a top suitor. However, in an SNY column making early offseason predictions, NBA insider Ian Begley claimed he expects Anunoby to return to the New York Knicks but with a unique caveat.

• OG Anunoby stats (2023-24): 14.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 38% 3PT

“I’ll predict here that Anunoby re-signs with New York on a contract that contains some incentives for games played,” Begley wrote. “It would be stunning if the Knicks allowed Anunoby to go to another team after they moved RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto to acquire him … It’s logical for the Knicks to include some incentives based on games played. But Anunoby’s impact on winning was obvious. So I don’t think they will let him sign elsewhere this summer.”

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The 3-and-D specialist missed over a month due to an elbow injury during the regular season, and then most of their semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers after incurring a hamstring injury. There were rumblings earlier this year that Anunoby has a reputation for not wanting to play through injuries and has played in 70 or more games just once during his career.

The Knicks will likely have to give him a massive deal to stay but it makes sense that he must meet certain games played standards to get every bit of that deal based on his previous history.