Knicks Signing Young Star To Massive Extension
The New York Knicks are doing something they haven't done in well over 20 years: locking up their own lottery pick with a long-term rookie extension.
New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett is finalizing a four-year rookie extension that could be worth up to $120 million, his agent Bill Duffy of @BDA_Sports + @WME_Sports told ESPN, complicating the franchise’s offseason trade pursuit of Utah Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell. pic.twitter.com/6KkGm4ch8o
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 30, 2022
According to NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski the Knicks are finalizing a 4-year extension for RJ Barrett—the No. 3 pick in the 2019 Draft—that could be worth up to $120M.
Barrett’s extension ends a remarkable 23-year drought for the Knicks: He’s the franchise’s first draft pick to agree to a multi-year contract extension after his rookie deal since Charlie Ward in 1999.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 30, 2022
It's the Knicks' first long-term extension with a first-round pick since Charlie Ward in 1999.
While this is all certainly great news for the Knicks, it also throws a wrench into their Donovan Mitchell trade talks. It could, in fact, put the whole conversation in jeopardy. The Jazz are known to have "greatly valued" Barrett.
The Utah Jazz ‘greatly valued’ RJ Barrett as part of any Donovan Mitchell deal, per Woj
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) August 30, 2022
“A deal without [RJ Barrett] would require the Knicks to relinquish far more draft assets than they've shown a willingness to do, sources said.” pic.twitter.com/cplZErDLmQ
“A deal without [RJ Barrett] would require the Knicks to relinquish far more draft assets than they've shown a willingness to do, sources said," according to Woj.
He also notes that Knicks' president Leon Rose had set a Monday night deadline for the Jazz to agree to a deal, or he'd be signing Barrett to the extension.
Plenty of intrigue surrounding all of this; we'll be keeping tabs on it all.
Photo: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Post a Comment