Knicks, RJ Barrett finalizing four-year extension worth up to $120M, complicating Donovan Mitchell pursuit

The New York Knicks and rising star ahead RJ Barrett are within the technique of finalizing a four-year contract extension value as much as $120 million, Barrett’s agent Billy Duffy told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday night time. When signed, the deal won’t solely complicate the Knicks’ pursuit of Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell but in addition finish one of many NBA‘s most embarrassing streaks with Barrett changing into the primary New York draft decide to signal a multi-year contract extension since Charlie Ward in 1999.

Barrett, the No. 3 general decide within the 2019 NBA Draft, is now positioned to be a franchise cornerstone for the foreseeable future.

He’ll must be because the Knicks’ pursuit of Mitchell has now hit a crossroads. New York has been making an attempt to commerce for the All-Star guard, and whereas Barrett was not initially a part of these discussions, his identify has reportedly been raised in the latest commerce talks between the 2 sides.

The Knicks reportedly set a Monday night time deadline to finish a commerce with their eyes on in any other case signing Barrett to his a deal. Whereas New York and Utah can nonetheless make a commerce with out Barrett, the 2 sides might want to return to the drafting board in the event that they hope to consummate a deal earlier than opening night time.  With that in thoughts, listed below are three key factors on Barrett’s new deal:

The poison capsule

Whereas Barrett’s extension doesn’t technically limit him from being traded this season, it does current a quirk in how his wage could be counted in such a commerce. On New York’s finish, issues do not change in any respect. He would nonetheless rely for his 2022-23 wage of $10.9 million for wage matching functions within the commerce. 

Nevertheless, as an incoming wage for Utah, his cap determine could be a lot greater. Between now and when Barrett’s extension kicks in through the 2023 offseason, his incoming wage to the Jazz or some other group buying him could be the typical of the 5 seasons he’s now signed for. That is roughly $26.2 million.

That is extra of an annoyance than a real hindrance, particularly because the Jazz wouldn’t be required to pay Barrett that a lot money upfront. It is merely the determine he’d rely for in opposition to the cap as a part of the commerce. The place issues get troublesome is in becoming the deal inside the league’s allowable commerce parameters. For a deal of this dimension, neither aspect can ship out greater than 125 % of the wage that they take in. 

Mitchell makes north of $30 million, in order that luckily offers the Jazz some latitude right here, nevertheless it makes it more durable for them to soak up contracts from New York’s aspect. As Barrett nonetheless solely counts for $10.9 million as outgoing Knicks wage, the Knicks would want to ship at the least another hefty contract to get to that 125 % vary. Evan Fournier is the identify most regularly talked about in reporting.

Once more, this can be a solvable downside if either side are dedicated sufficient to a deal, however the mere act of giving Barrett this extension means that the Knicks plan to maintain him. If there’s a deal to be struck right here, it is likelier to be centered round draft picks and different younger gamers on New York’s roster. 

The streak

For all the issues the Knicks have had this century, they’ve really drafted pretty nicely. Kristaps Porzingis and David Lee each made All-Star groups throughout their rookie contracts in New York. Gamers like Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Iman Shumpert and Channing Frye all went on to have profitable careers. New York’s problem hasn’t been figuring out younger expertise. It has been conserving it.

Charlie Ward was the final Knicks draft decide earlier than Barrett to signal a multi-year rookie extension. Porzingis, Gallinari, Chandler, Shumpert and Frye have been all traded. Lee left as a free agent after the Knicks signed Amar’e Stoudemire. Many Knicks busts merely did not warrant new contracts. 

Paradoxically, the Knicks did give an infinite second contract to certainly one of their very own first-round picks… however solely after he left. The Knicks used a first-round decide on Tim Hardaway Jr. in 2013, traded him in 2015, after which paid him $72 million to return as a restricted free agent in 2017. That, together with the free-agent deal Mitchell Robinson signed this offseason, was as shut because the streak got here to breaking earlier than Barrett.

It was in some ways the final word image of Knicks futility. It managed to embody each the group’s poor drafting and its poor administration on the few events by which it did handle to draft nicely. However with Barrett signed, the Knicks can transfer past that shameful chapter in group historical past. For as soon as, they’ve discovered a younger participant they really wished to maintain.

The younger star

The Knicks have accomplished little to place Barrett for achievement to this point in his profession. He is been surrounded largely by poor shooters. He shares a front-court with Julius Randle, who tends to monopolize the ball in half-court settings. He performs for a coach in Tom Thibodeau who has a fame for working his starters into the bottom.

But Barrett has slowly matured into an impressive younger participant. The first query about his recreation coming into the NBA was his 3-point shot. He managed to sink over 40 % of his makes an attempt in simply his second NBA season. His protection has grown steadily throughout his three seasons, and he spent most of final season guarding New York’s hardest opponents. 

When Randle faltered underneath the load of a brand new contract and New York stress, Barrett emerged as probably the most priceless Knick final season. After a gradual begin, he managed to common 23.6 factors, six rebounds and three.5 assists per recreation from New Yr’s Day on. The Knicks have not given him a group worthy of his development but, however with Brunson on board and Mitchell doubtlessly coming, that might simply change.

It is a wing’s league, and New York simply locked up its greatest one for 4 extra seasons. The final two years of that deal will come after the league is predicted to have signed a brand new, extra profitable tv contract that ought to improve the wage cap considerably. The Knicks stand to profit drastically from a doable spike. Their greatest gamers are all now signed up for the lengthy haul, and with Barrett signed up, the Knicks can flip their consideration to Mitchell with out Barrett’s standing hanging over their heads all season.