Immanuel Quickley: Knicks' Long-Term Asset or 'Significant' Trade Piece?
A decision on Immanuel Quickley's hardwood destiny will be anything but immediate.
In his third season with the New York Knicks, the former first-round pick and current first man off the Manhattan bench began the year as primary trade fodder and ended it as one of the most vital contributors to a metropolitan playoff run. En route to a runner-up finish in the Sixth Man of the Year vote, Quickley posted career bests with 14.9 points and 4.2 rebounds a game while helping the Knicks secure the Eastern Conference's fifth seed. Quickley appeared in all but one game on the Knicks ledger and made 21 starts, often in relief of either RJ Barrett or Jalen Brunson
A season like that, NBA insiders say, will put Quickley in prime position to turn down a $6.1 million qualifying offer when he becomes a free agent after the 2023-24 season.
"In talking with people around the league, this is what I’ve gathered as far as looking at his value," Michael Scotto of HoopsHype said on the site's podcast. "At worst, his floor would be four years, $80 million."
Scotto was joined by Knicks insiders Ian Begley of SNY and Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, both of whom agreed that Quickley was due a big payday ... though each expressed relative caution about his Knicks future.
New York has made no secret about trying to add another established star to play next to Brunson, the newly-minted franchise face. That, of course, would require sacrifice, and Quickley would be a prime candidate for moving if and when such a deal came to pass.
"I think any team that calls on a significant trade is going to be asking about Quickley," Begley said. "I think it comes down to (whether) they're going to make that big move this summer or are they going to wait."
In terms of a long-term deal in New York, Bondy mentioned that while Quickley proved himself more than deserving of a raise and security, but that such a deal, in addition to the expected checks being prepared for fellow depth star Josh Hart, would likely lock the Knicks in a commitment to their current core.
"The Knicks have to be careful here," Bondy warned. "They’re going to pay Josh Hart. That’s a given Brunson’s on a big contract. (Julius) Randle’s on a big contract. Barrett’s on a big contract. Hart and Quickley could be on big contracts, and that’s your squad. I get it, you can get incrementally better, and there are ways around that to improve."
In any other locale, Quickley might've already played himself into a long-term contract in his current dwelling. Perhaps only in New York, could that instead only polish his trade case instead, as the Knicks see themselves in primary position to end their long-standing postseason futility.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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