New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley took his game to new heights in the 2022-23 season, and as a result, his team’s asking price has gone up in trade talks surrounding the 24-year-old.
“The Knicks have discussed Quickley in trades this summer, league sources told The Athletic, though objectives have changed since last autumn when they were on the prowl for a first-round pick in exchange for the guard,” wrote NBA insider Fred Katz. “After a second-place finish in the NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting, the price is higher. They don’t want to take a step back after a 47-win campaign, either.”
Quickley is eligible for a contract extension this offseason and reportedly would like a big payday to the tune of nine figures. If the rising star doesn’t get a new deal, he’ll become a restricted free agent next offseason.
It’s no surprise that New York’s asking price in trade talks regarding Quickley has gone up from last fall. The guard’s 2022-23 campaign was exactly what the doctor ordered for him and his team.
Quickley’s first two NBA seasons were solid but left some room for growth from an efficiency standpoint. During each of those two seasons, he was pretty reliable from beyond the arc but shot below 40 percent from the field.
That changed last season, when he averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from deep.
The former first-round pick is starting to look like one of the better young guards in the NBA, and wherever he spends his next few years, they may be some of the best of his career.
Noise about the Knicks potentially moving Quickley doesn’t seem to be going away. Earlier this month, one NBA executive floated the idea of a trade sending the youngster to the Toronto Raptors.
If Quickley ultimately finds himself back with the Knicks when the 2023-24 season begins, he’ll have to find a way to drown out the noise and lock back in as New York looks to build off its 2022-23 campaign. Quickley, of course, had a huge hand in New York’s success last season, helping the team win 47 games before the group made a little noise in the playoffs.
The future looks bright for the Knicks, and time will tell if Quickley is around to watch it unfold.
