Leon Rose‘s Knicks have broken one of the franchise’s worst patterns: For the first time since Charlie Ward in the mid-90s, they are paying to keep their best young talent in house and not trading him for an older veteran.
The Knicks are finalizing a deal to sign wing RJ Barrett to a four-year, up to $120 million extension, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The real key is that deal takes Barrett off the table in any Donovan Mitchell trade talks.
After he signs this extension, Barrett can’t be traded until Jan. 15, and has veto power over any trade for a year. The Knicks can still trade picks — unprotected first-round picks have been the sticking point more than players — and other players such as Obi Toppin or Quentin Grimes for Mitchell, but Barrett is off the board. How much the Jazz wanted Barrett depends on who you asked.
We don’t know the parameters of the extension yet, but that $120 million number probably includes unlikely incentives. It will be interesting to see the actual guaranteed money number, but it is likely closer to what the Knicks just paid Jalen Brunson at $104 million over four years.
Barrett averaged 20 points a game last season at age 21, he’s able to create his own shot in isolation and can finish at the rim. The Knicks want more consistency out of him — if Barrett’s jumper improves (34.2% from 3 last season, but not a great perimeter shooter off the bounce yet) he can be an elite offensive force. Defensively he can be a pest but still learning how to use his athletic skills.
The fact the Knicks kept a first-round pick (No. 3 overall) is a good sign for the organization. Rose continues to make smart moves, if not the bold ones Knicks fans want.
Although that could still be coming. The Mitchell trade isn’t dead, the deal just changed a little.
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Report: Knicks finalizing four-year extension with RJ Barrett, taking him out of Mitchell talks originally appeared on NBCSports.com
