What the Raptors Should Expect Immanuel Quickley to Get Paid This Offseason
Immanuel Quickley is about to get paid.
For all the talk about OG Anunoby’s contract situation playing a part in the Toronto Raptors' decision to trade their star forward, Quickley’s contract appears to have forced the New York Knicks' hands on the other side of Saturday's blockbuster deal.
The 24-year-old sixth man had been unable to agree to a contract extension offer with the Knicks over the summer and will now head into restricted free agency this offseason. The difference here is Toronto will be able to match any offers made to Quickley, an advantage the Raptors didn’t have with Anunoby who was destined for unrestricted free agency.
As for what to expect, Quickely is by all accounts looking for a bigger role with a contract that’ll pay him as such. He’s expected to slide into Toronto’s starting lineup at some point in the not-too-distant future and that’ll certainly be a welcomed change for the 6-foot-3 combo guard.
“Quickley was offered around $18 million per year and was looking for closer to $25 million annually,” Michael Scotto of HoopsHype wrote earlier this month. “Given the wide gap in extension talks, along with the belief Quickley would eventually like to start, the Knicks would consider moving last year’s Sixth Man of the Year finalist in the right trade.”
If Quickley plays well in a bigger role, that number could grow even bigger. Sportsnet’s Michael Grange reported Quickley is believed to be looking for a five-year deal worth approximately $135 million ($27 million per season).
There’s no doubt Quickley’s number will be a lot less than the nearly $40 million Anunoby is expected to make next season in the first year of what’ll likely be a near-max contract for the 26-year-old. But for Toronto, it’ll be the difference between the two contracts to keep an eye on.
