OG Anunoby should be glad that ESPN's Bobby Marks isn't his agent.
Anunoby is widely expected to decline a $19 million player option this summer to become an unrestricted free agent.
The 26-year-old forward should be one of the most in-demand free agents this summer. Anunoby is an elite 3-and-D wing and one of the few players in the league capable of guarding all five positions while adding 15-18 points per game.
Anunoby is going to get paid this offseason, it's just a matter of how much.
Marks, an NBA front office insider who spent 20 years with the Nets, broke down how much he'd offer each of the top 10 free agents in the NBA this summer.
His contract offer for Anunoby was surprisingly low: four years, $145 million, with the last year becoming guaranteed if Anunoby hits a games-played criteria.
Marks' offer would pay Anunoby an average salary of $36.5 million per season. Right now that would make Anunoby the 33rd highest-paid player in the NBA by average salary, according to Spotrac.
Marks writes:
"The impact on the court, however, is watered down by Anunoby's lack of availability. He has played an average of 50 games in the past four seasons.
"The durability concerns are why a games-played clause should be included in his next contract."
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto said on his podcast that NBA executives believe Anunoby's starting salary is around $35 million and could potentially go up to the max.
The Athletic's Fred Katz has said he wouldn't be surprised if Anunoby gets $40 million per year on average for his next contract.
So while Marks' offer lands in that range, it also seemingly doesn't account for Anunoby's leverage this summer.
Not only does Anunoby play an in-demand role, he is hitting the free agent market in a summer where good teams have cap space. And those teams know they'll have to offer a big contract if they want to lure him away from New York.
Paul George figures to be the Philadelphia 76ers' top target this offseason. But if they miss out on George, a lockdown defensive wing and third scoring option like Anunoby would be a perfect fit next Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Anunoby's skills would also fit very well on young, growing playoff teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder or Orlando Magic, both of whom have cap space.
On top of it, the Knicks traded two young, core players in R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, plus a first-round pick, for Anunoby. They went 26-5 with Anunoby in the lineup this season and have no means of replacing him if he leaves this summer.
So, if the Sixers, hypothetically offered Anunoby a four-year, $150 million contract, it's easy to see the Knicks having to go higher just to keep him. The Knicks do have the option to add a fifth year to Anunoby's contract, if they wanted.
The Knicks reportedly feel they're in a 'good place' to bring back Anunoby.
Marks does bring up an interesting point, however: an incentive tied to games played. Anunoby hasn't played more than 70 games in a season since his rookie year in 2017-18. He missed much of the second half of the season with the Knicks with bone spurs in his elbow, then missed most of their second-round series with a hamstring injury. It will be interesting to see if whatever contract Anunoby signs has incentives based on availability.
It would be great news for the Knicks if Anunoby can be re-signed on a four-year, $145 million contract. But as of now, Marks' number seems a little low.
