OG Anunoby is set to earn a huge salary this summer.
The Toronto Raptors knew this was going to happen. That's why the organization opted to sign the 26-year-old forward with the New York Knicks earlier this season. There was no way to guarantee he would re-sign with the organization, and the risk of Anunoby leaving in free agency was unacceptable to Toronto.
If you want to blame the NBA collective bargaining agreement, blame it.
The CBA prohibits players like Anunoby from signing contract extensions that exceed 120% of their current salary. In Anunoby's case, that meant the most Toronto could offer wasn't enough to lure Anunoby into a deal.
According to Tim Cato of The Athletic, Anunoby is considering a four-year contract worth more than $150 million this season. Roughly $37.5 million per season is the “minimum” Anunoby is willing to sign with one agent, he told Cato.
That number could be inflated in New York because Anunoby's influence prevents the Knicks from offering him a contract extension before he becomes a free agent. In theory, a rival team could offer Anunoby a max contract, and the Knicks would have to respond or risk losing the 6-foot-9 wing for nothing.
Toronto went through a similar situation with Fred VanVleet last summer, but he declined to extend his contract with the organization and instead chose to test free agency. The Raptors had plans to re-sign the former All-Star point guard, but Toronto backed out after the Houston Rockets offered VanVleet a two-year max contract.
Since joining the Knicks in December, Anunoby has appeared in just 17 of the team's 41 games, averaging 14.5 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 36.4 percent from deep.
