OG Anunoby has been a critical piece for the New York Knicks since coming over in a midseason trade with the Toronto Raptors.
The 26-year-old forward has been everything the team and fans could have hoped for: a versatile, hounding defender who has reliably hit threes, slashed to the basket, and created his own offense in doses.
Individual stats don’t tell the whole story of Anunoby’s impact on the Knicks, but there is one marker that shows his value: the Knicks are an incredible 25-5 in games Anunoby has played, including the playoffs.
All of this sets up nicely for Anunoby, who can become an unrestricted free agent this summer by declining a player option.
Anunoby is currently in the last year of a four-year, $72 million contract, which is paying him $18.6 million this season. Suffice to say he is going to want a raise.
How much of a raise will Anunoby get on his next contract?
While speaking on “The Lowe Post” podcast last week, Fred Katz of The Athletic said he thinks Anunoby’s play in the postseason is going to make him close to the max.
“OG Anunoby is going to get paid this summer,” Katz said. “And that Game 4 was the ultimate, 'You're going to max me, aren't you?' And I don't think they're going to max him, but I think he's going to make more money than people are guessing. I think he is really going to get paid.”
A max contract for Anunoby would start at $42.3 million for the 2024-25 season.
Tim Cato of The Athletic had previously said that one agent believes $150 million over four years would be the “floor” for Anunoby’s contract. Such a deal would pay him an average of $37.5 million per year, which would currently make him the 37th highest-paid player in the NBA.
It’s possible that he might even exceed that number.
Yahoo’s Jake Fischer had reported earlier this season that Anunoby, in meetings with agents, had expressed wanting a salary in the “ballpark” of $40 million per year.
So while it’s too early to predict what exactly Anunoby will sign for, it seems possible that he signs something like a four-year, $160 million contract, whether that’s with the Knicks or elsewhere. There will certainly be other suitors for Anunoby, but it seems unlikely that the Knicks would have traded for him without an understanding of what he wants on his next contract.
The NBA is a star-driven league, but quality role players make a huge difference, too. Anunoby is a star in his role, and he’s going to get rewarded for his valuable play.
