Knicks, RJ Barrett working out a four-year extension, source confirms
RJ Barrett #9 of the Knicks reacts after a scoring a basket and drawing a foul during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Knicks and RJ Barrett are completing the details of a four-year rookie contract extension that could pay the 22-year-old wing as much as $120 million, putting an end to speculation that with the big payday coming, he could be part of a trade to the Utah Jazz.
Instead, Barrett becomes the first Knicks rookie since Charlie Ward to sign a multiyear extension and likely remains a long-term cornerstone for the Knicks’ rebuilding project. Though he has yet to make an All-Star team, Barrett averaged 20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in his third season for the Knicks after being selected No. 3 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft behind Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. He is averaging 17.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in his career.
A league source confirmed that the deal is being worked on, with Barrett earning the full $120 million if he achieves milestones including All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defensive Team honors. He already has proved to be a reliable two-way force for Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, playing in all 72 games two seasons ago and leading the NBA in total minutes played that season.
That didn’t preclude the Knicks’ front office from discussing deals that could have sent Barrett to Utah in a package for three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell this summer. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who was the first to report the imminent signing, reported that Knicks president Leon Rose had set a deadline of Monday night to complete a deal with Utah — and without a deal done, the Knicks agreed to the extension for Barrett, a move that makes it unlikely he can be included in any deal until at least next summer.
The extension does not eliminate a deal for Mitchell, but it makes it a more difficult maneuver to stomach for Rose. Without Barrett, the closest thing to a young star on the Knicks’ roster, the demands from Utah and Danny Ainge include not only other young talent such as Quentin Grimes but a surplus of first-round draft picks.
Utah acquired six first-round picks this summer in a deal that sent out Rudy Gobert, and Ainge has been seeking a similar haul for Mitchell, including a number of unprotected first-round picks.
Though the Knicks have the picks (with four from other teams in addition to all of their own), they have been hesitant to go all-in with their draft assets for Mitchell, a talented player who still would not push them into championship-contending status.
Barrett joins a number of other young teammates signing huge deals this summer. In addition to the free-agent acquisition of Jalen Brunson to a four-year deal worth $104 million, the Knicks brought back 2018 second-round pick Mitchell Robinson on a four-year, $60 million deal.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
