The New York Knicks have been one of the most active teams this offseason, with one of their biggest moves being the re-signing of defensive wing OG Anunoby to a five-year, $212.5 million deal. In a recent article, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus shared his predictions for the contracts each NBA team may regret most. For the Knicks, he singled out Anunoby’s contract, citing the loss of key players due to the financial strain of the deal.
“Anunoby fits well with the team, but his contract exceeded industry expectations,” Pincus noted. “This large investment in Anunoby impacted the Knicks’ ability to retain center Isaiah Hartenstein, which could pose problems this season.” The team officially announced Anunoby’s re-signing on July 6, the same day the Oklahoma City Thunder signed Hartenstein.
Although the Knicks hope to have Mitchell Robinson healthy for most of the season and Precious Achiuwa as a solid backup, the loss of Hartenstein, who had a significant impact last season, is still felt. Now, Anunoby must prove he’s worth the hefty contract as the Knicks aim to compete with the Boston Celtics and other top contenders in the Eastern Conference.