Knicks need role players to step up in major way after OG Anunoby trade

The first obvious benefit is Anunoby's defense, providing the Knicks with a big and strong "mugging presence," as one scout called it, to guard the opposition's top wing threat. The other plus is spacing the floor with his 3-point shot, allowing Jalen Brunson and especially Julius Randle more room to operate in the paint. (A potential drawback that is not discussed enough is Anunoby's durability, or lack thereof. He hasn't played more than 69 games in the last four seasons, while twice finishing in the 40s. That part is not a good match with Tom Thibodeau.)

The third bonus is alleviating the rotation crunch that had become an issue in the locker room, the consequence of a roster construction that included too many guards and players who required the ball in their hands. Now, without Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, there will be greater responsibility on Brunson and Randle to produce, especially in crunch time, which was an issue Monday when the offense sputtered in the fourth quarter (they held on to beat the Timberwolves despite scoring only 18 points in the final period).

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