As the Brooklyn Nets angle to come out as winners in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, the other New York team is still grasping at straws as they attempt to improve the state of their roster.
This summer, the Knicks have targeted Donovan Mitchell as the primary target, and it makes a lot of sense. He’s a young and explosive young guard who will breathe life into the garden once again.
Unfortunately, the Knicks might not have the assets to get a deal done. While they have been considered favorites in the chase for Mitch (thanks to their stockpile of draft picks), there remains little to no interest in RJ Barrett, who was supposed to be a centerpiece in the deal.
(via Please Don’t Aggregate This)
“I’ve heard pretty consistently the Jazz don’t really have much interest in trading for RJ Barrett and paying for him (h/t HoopsHype).”
On paper, RJ is a solid young player with a lot of star potential in the right environment. Last season, he averaged 20 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Knicks.
So why don’t the Jazz want him? Well, for one, his inefficiency is concerning. He shot just 40% from the field last season and 34% from three. The truth is, RJ hasn’t yet lived up to expectations as a former third overall pick. To make matters even worse, there are reports out there saying that he’s expecting a max contract extension.
“The word on the street is definitely that both Barrett and Tyler Herro are looking for maximum contract extensions,” Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer said during a recent episode of his podcast.
Put all those things together, and you get a recipe for disaster. Without proving anything, Barrett is fully convinced he’s a max player, and the Utah Jazz just don’t agree.
If the Knicks want to get their hands on Mitchell, or any other high-profile player, they might have to start with guys like Obi Toppin, Cam Reddish, or even Mitchell Robinson.
