OG Anunoby is set to make his second appearance as a Knick on Wednesday night against the Bulls, and Keith says fans will be watching a player that New York badly needed, even if it meant parting with two former first-round picks in RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.
“You needed to shake this team up right now. You couldn’t run it back like you did after last year,” Keith said. “RJ Barrett was never going to become what you needed him to become as the third overall pick here.
You were never going to start IQ or pay IQ…so, so long, farewell.”
With Anunoby complementing the offensive prowess of Jalen Brunson and Julius Ramdle, Keith says, in the long run, the Knicks will be in much better shape than when Barrett was the third option on the floor, especially given Anunoby’s defensive prowess that was on display on Monday against Anthony Edwards, Karl Anthony Towns, and the Timberwolves.
“You just got rid of the mid three, and if now you’re big three consists of Randle, Brunson, and OG, that’s an improvement,” Keith said.
“That’s a great trade.”