Former Knicks guard signs whopping $175 million contract before free agency

Immanuel Quickley bet on himself, and it paid off.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski , Quickley agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract with the Toronto Raptors, preventing him from hitting restricted free agency on June 30.

Quickley and forward RJ Barrett were dealt from the New York Knicks to the Raptors in December as part of the OG Anunoby trade. Over 38 games as the Raptors' starting point guard, Quickley averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game on 42% shooting, 39.5% from three.

The Knicks and Quickley had failed to come to a contract extension before the start of the 2023-24 season. Though it's unclear what exactly the Knicks offered their sixth man, one report said Quickley was hoping for a deal that paid around $25 million per season while the Knicks offered something around $18 million annually.

Ultimately, an extension never got done, setting Quickley up for restricted free agency in the summer of 2024.

And though Quickley had played well in New York, he struggled to see big minutes with Jalen Brunson starting at point guard. Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was reluctant to play Brunson and Quickley together.

The Knicks-Raptors trade seemed to work out for both sides. The Knicks thrived with Anunoby in the lineup, going 20-3 in the regular season. Anunoby reportedly agreed to re-sign with the Knicks on a massive, five-year, $212.5 million contract.

Meanwhile, Quickley and Barrett played well in Toronto, posting career-best numbers to become building blocks for a rebuilding Raptors team.

Had Quickley stayed in New York, he might not have ever received such an offer, or the Knicks would have declined to match if he had.