Knicks president Leon Rose formally introduced the contract extension of RJ Barrett on Thursday afternoon, calling him a “core piece of our group’s basis.”
He higher be hardcore as a result of the Knicks received’t be getting Donovan Mitchell, who reportedly is heading to the Cavaliers for a bundle of 5 first-round picks, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen and Ochai Agbaji.
Three of the first-round picks have been unprotected — which was the sticking level in negotiations with the Knicks. Utah’s CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge at first wished 4 unprotected first-round picks however settled for 3.
“They thought that they had Ainge and Utah over the barrel,” one league supply stated. “They held again on finest provides of picks and gamers and Danny obtained his three unprotected.”
Mitchell, who eliminated Utah from his Twitter bio this week, most well-liked a commerce to the Knicks to return again residence, however he’s nonetheless nearer to his Westchester County roots in Ohio than in Utah.
Considered one of Rose’s remaining provides was two unprotected first-rounders and three conditional picks with Barrett. It’s unkown if Rose made a proposal with three unprotected first-round picks in a non-Barrett iteration. Ainge handed however was nonetheless very concerned about getting Quentin Grimes within the deal. Apparently, Rose didn’t suppose Ainge actually had a proposal with three unprotected first-rounders and withheld Grimes from any provides.
It additionally ought to be famous that each one issues equal, Ainge possible most well-liked to commerce Mitchell off Broadway and forestall him from enjoying within the media capital of the world.
The Knicks’ Plan B is constructing their younger core and nonetheless being amenable to an enormous commerce with their draft capital. They are going to have two first-round picks in 2023 and 11 over the subsequent seven years.
The Knicks forfeited their 2022 lottery choose, the eleventh slot, this yr to open cap area for Jalen Brunson they usually may lose one other first-rounder for allegedly tampering with him.
The Knicks will probably be looking out for the subsequent disgruntled participant who goes on the buying and selling block with Oklahoma Metropolis level guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander beforehand talked about. Sarcastically, the Knicks handed on him within the 2108 draft, very similar to they whiffed on Mitchell in 2017. Gilgeous-Alexander might be a greater match with Brunson than Mitchell.
Moments earlier than the Mitchell information broke, the Knicks launched a press release on Barrett to maybe soften the blow.
“We're thrilled to announce a well-deserved extension for RJ Barrett, a core piece of our group’s basis,” Rose stated. “At solely 22 years previous, he has elevated his recreation every season, solidifying himself as a drive on each ends of the courtroom. We imagine he'll proceed to enhance due to his ardour for the sport and dedication to his craft. We need to proceed to construct our group and tradition round gamers like RJ who possess these values and qualities.”
The Knicks beginning 5 is now set to be Brunson, Evan Fournier, Barrett, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson.
The Knicks felt with Mitchell aboard they might be a 47-win group and make a 10-win enchancment. However they didn’t need to exhaust their draft capital and forestall themselves from making another important transfer to get them to title rivalry.
Now their roster will possible make them a contender for the play-in event however not a lot larger than that. In the meantime, their Japanese Convention rival Cavaliers have carried out effectively with GM Koby Altman, New York native, quietly getting the products.
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