The trade of OG Anunoby by Toronto was not unexpected; there had been whispers and lots of other interested teams for more than a year.
The timing of this December 30 deal, and the haul the Raptors received, were both surprises.
The Raptors made a move after what seemed like years of deliberation, and the Knicks paid a premium for a player on an expiring contract.
Who won and who lost this trade? Let's take it all apart.
This begins with the specifics of the deal itself: OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn arrive in New York. Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and a 2024 second-round pick (via Detroit, likely pick 31 or 32) are acquired by Toronto.
Anunoby was going to get compensated regardless of what transpired. He's a free agent (he'll opt out of the $19.9 million he's guaranteed next season because he's worth at least $12 million more on the open market), and teams were queued up to pay him.
Anunuby, on the other hand, is a winner in this deal because of opportunity.
He didn't fit in completely with the Raptors, and his usage rate dropped season after season as Scottie Barnes took on a larger role (as it should have, Anunoby is brilliant off the ball but never developed into the shot creator the Raptors hoped for).