Raptors sending Anunoby, Achiuwa to Knicks for package including RJ Barrett: reports

The Toronto Raptors acquired Canadian RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley from the New York Knicks in exchange for OG Anunoby, a person with knowledge of the deal said Saturday.

The Knicks also will acquire Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn, the person told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the trade is not yet official.

The trade was first reported by ESPN.

The Knicks are giving up two of their top offensive players in Barrett, a starting forward from Mississauga, Ont., and Quickley, one of the NBA's top reserves. But the deal should provide a needed boost to their defence, with Anunoby leading the league in steals last season.

A Raptors spokesperson declined to comment on the reported trade. A text-message left with Barrett was not immediately returned.

Toronto (12-19) entered play Saturday tied for 11th place in the NBA's Eastern Conference standings. The Knicks were in seventh place at 17-14.

Anunoby, considered one of the best defenders in the NBA, figures to step right into Barrett's spot in the Knicks' starting lineup.

The 6-foot-7 swingman is averaging 15.1 points and had his highest-scoring game of the season when the Raptors visited the Knicks on Dec. 11, scoring 29 points.

The 26-year-old Anunoby was selected by the club in 2017 as the 23rd overall pick, going on to make the All-Defensive second team in 2023.

He helped the Raptors to a No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference during the 2019 playoffs but did not play in the postseason after an emergency appendectomy as Toronto won its only championship.

Barrett averages 18.2 points but has struggled lately with his outside shot, going 2 for 12 from 3-point range over the last two games. The No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft helped the