3 for 3! Officially reached!The last big deal of 2023

On December 31, Beijing time, on the last day of 2023, the Knicks and Raptors officially announced a 3-for-3 deal: the Knicks sent Barrett + Quickley + 2024 second-round pick (from the Pistons) to get Anunoby + Achiuwa + Malazi Flynn from the Raptors. This is a deal that has been struck, not a rumor.

A few hours before the official announcement, Quickley read Shams' report and learned that he had been traded, and he tweeted: "Oh my God!" There are actually quite a few players like Quickley who are "late realisers". This can also show how good the NBA's top reporters are, the players themselves have not yet received a call from the team, and the reporters have already received the news of the trade.

There is actually another reason why Quickley was so surprised, he just played the best season of his career, and he didn't expect to be traded. This season, Quickley is averaging 15 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 24 minutes per game while shooting 45.4 percent, 39.5 percent and 87.2 percent from three. The average points per game, shooting and three-point shooting percentage are all career highs.

Quickley is playing so well, why should the Knicks trade him? Quickley's rookie contract expires next summer, and he has been seeking a contract extension with an average salary of $25 million this offseason, but unfortunately the Knicks have turned him down. The Raptors have a bunch of forward players, but not enough reserves on the guard line. After Quickley joined, he could compete with Schroder for the starter.

In addition to Quickley, the Raptors also got a 2024 second-round pick and Barrett. Let's talk about this second-round pick first, because it comes from the Pistons (the worst record in the league), the probability is 31 picks, which is about equal to the draft pick at the end of the first round. Let's talk about Barrett, who is originally Canadian, and now he has been sent to the Raptors, and it is not bad to go back to his hometown to play.

In the 2022 offseason, the Knicks renewed Barrett for $120 million over four years, but they didn't expect to trade him so soon. Barrett is a 2019 rookie and is averaging 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game for the Knicks this season, shooting 42.3%, 33.1% and 83.1% from three. The average points per game is the lowest in nearly three years, and the rebounds and assists are both career lows.

Let's talk about the three players the Knicks got: Anunoby, Achiuwa and Flynn. Among them, the most valuable one is Anunoby, who is averaging 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1 steal per game this season, shooting 48.9%, 37.4% and 71.7% from three. He has a four-year, $72 million contract expiring in the summer of 2025 with a final year player option.

In the summer of 2024, Anunoby can give up the player option and become a free agent, and he also wants a big contract! Yahoo Sports reporter Jake Fischer revealed that Anunoby asked the Raptors for a $40 million annual contract extension, but the Raptors refused. With Anunoby being traded to the Knicks, he expressed his willingness to lower the asking price.

Anunoby and Barrett are both forwards, with the former defensively better. Knicks center Miro is out for the season, and the addition of Achiuwa is a supplement to the Knicks' interior line. Achiuwa is averaging 7.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks in 17.5 minutes per game this season, while shooting 45.9%, 27.7% and 57.1% from three.

Finally, there's Flynn, who is a defender. The Knicks got three, a front, an interior and a guard. Flynn is averaging 5.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.6 steals in 15.3 minutes per game this season while shooting 40.9 percent, 35 percent and 77.3 percent from three. This stats and performance are not on the same level as Quickley.

After the deal is made, the starting lineups of the Raptors and Knicks are as follows! Who do you think made the deal?