Knicks continue to go all-in as they reach $212 million deal with OG Anunoby

NEW YORK – The New York Knicks plan to sign OG Anunoby to a five-year, $212 million contact, a person familiar with the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly until the deal is official.

Anunoby earlier this week declined his player option, which allowed him to become a free agent, and the Knicks and Anunoby took advantage of a new rule that allows teams to negotiate with their own free agents after the Finals and before free agency begins on June 30.

The Anunoby deal includes a trade kicker and a player option on the fifth season, ESPN reported.

This development comes one day after the Knicks reached a deal to acquire guard-forward Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn for four unprotected first-round draft picks and other assets. The Knicks are looking at a starting lineup of Bridges, Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson with Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart off the bench.

The Knicks acquired Anunoby from Toronto in a December trade, and he became a valuable member of a Knicks team that finished 50-32. A strong two-way player, Anunoby, who sustained a hamstring injury in the playoffs, averaged 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals and shot 48.8% from the field and 39.4% on 3-pointers in 23 regular-season games with New York.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: OG Anunoby contract: Forward returning to Knicks on $212M deal