RJ Barrett's extension proves Knicks' loyalty to current roster

The Knicks just officially signed fourth-year small forward RJ Barrett to a lucrative four-year rookie contract extension worth up to $120M. Kevin O’Connor and Chris Vernon of The Ringer discuss how they consider this deal a smart play for New York in the latest edition of their podcast The Mismatch. The duo thinks that Barrett, at worst, will be a solid role player, and at best could reach All-Star greatness.

Vernon and O’Connor also both think Barrett will thrive best as a large shooting guard, the same position that undersized All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who was just dealt from the Jazz to the Cavaliers instead of the Knicks, plays.

Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post opines that Barrett’s extension serves as proof positive that team president Leon Rose and the rest of New York’s front office see Barrett as a core building block for the future. Vaccaro notes that Barrett has improved as a shooter each season, and is worth the investment.

There’s more out of Madison Square Garden:

• Knicks rival coaches and executives are weighing in on the team’s decision to extend RJ Barrett, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. “The Knicks normally overpay for decent players,’’ a coach told Berman. “Is RJ ever going to be more than a low efficiency, high usage scorer? Maybe. But maybe not. That’s the point. But they think he’s got a lot of room to get better.’’ An NBA scout was a bit more muted on the deal. “RJ is a really good player, but only if he’s surrounded by a really good team,” the scout reflected. “[The Knicks] are a mediocre team, and they have a lot of money tied up in three players (Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle being the other two) who are third/fourth options. That would be the concern. It’s where do they go from here with this much money tied into three players. Are these contracts going to be [tradable] if need be, or you’re stuck with them?’’
• The Knicks had the assets needed to trade for three-time Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who ultimately was sent to the Cavaliers today in a blockbuster deal. Ian Begley of SNY.tv breaks down New York’s thinking in not going all-in for Mitchell. In addition to being reticent to include three unprotected first-round picks as has been previously reported, Begley writes that the team was hesitant to trade RJ Barrett or Quentin Grimes, both of whom Utah had been interested in adding.
• Deciding to not make a deal for Donovan Mitchell may work out for the Knicks, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. Popper writes that a starting backcourt of two 6’1″ guards in Jalen Brunson and Mitchell could have put New York at a defensive disadvantage in a league full of bigger, longer guards. Popper wonders if the Knicks will now move on to considering 6’6″ Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, currently trapped on a franchise in the midst of a long-term rebuild.