INDIANAPOLIS — The Knicks expressed mixed feelings about breaking up their core to swing a major trade.

Sad to see rotation staples RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley go, but eager to see how newly acquired wing OG Anunoby will fit in, players offered a range of emotions about the trade the Knicks pulled off Saturday with the Raptors. 

“This probably for me is one of the toughest ones just because of the relationship I built with those two,” Julius Randle said after the Knicks’ 140-126 loss to the Pacers. “I mean, RJ, I came to this organization with him. He was drafted, I signed as a free agent. He’s like a little brother to me.

“We’ve been through all the ups and downs, year after year together and had a lot of battles, went through a lot of battles together. It’s tough. Quick, he’s like my little brother, too. I genuinely care about him as a person. … I think that they’re going to be great in this league for a long time. I know them personally, I know the work that they put in, the mindset. I think they’ve got a bright future ahead. I’ll always be a fan from a distance.”

Taj Gibson, who returned to the Knicks earlier this month as a free agent following injuries to centers Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims, has seen dozens of trades involving himself and teammates during a 15-year NBA career. Gibson said he talked to both departing players Saturday morning and called it “gut-wrenching” to see them go.

“It kind of sucked. I’ve been around them since they came into the league. Great young men. It’s just tough, one of the tough parts about the business,” Gibson said. “Being able to see them this morning and talk, it was tough.

“Those guys were special young players. They could handle New York City. In the NBA, every time you think you’ve got it figured out, you don’t. Yeah, I just wish them the best, man. I’m still going to be their OG. A lot of feelings today, but it’s only for the best for them.”

Of course, Anunoby is the Knicks’ new OG, and Gibson called the versatile wing “a talented young man.” 

Josh Hart added that Anunoby, the 2022-23 NBA steals leader, is “a really tenacious defender,” and a traditional “3-and-D guy,” who knocks down nearly 40 percent of his 3-point attempts.

“I think whenever you have a trade like this, and guys get traded, you’re always able to see aspects of their game that you never really knew they had,” Hart said. “So I’m excited and anxious to see that aspect of OG and what else he can bring to the table outside the obvious.”

Jalen Brunson said he preferred to first focus on the departure of Barrett and Quickley — as well as DaQuan Jeffries, who was waived. He’ll shift his attention to the impact of Anunoby and the other newcomers, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn, once they arrive.

‘This morning was a little weird. … Pretty weird day,” Brunson said. “I wish [Barrett and Quickley] nothing but the best. Still going to talk to Quick, the way we’ve had a relationship these last two years, the way we’ve been talking, feeding off each other.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him. And RJ, going back to Toronto, to Canada, is going to be a special moment for him. Lot of respect for those two. Great teammates, great people.”