The New York Knicks may be trading forward RJ Barrett for a star.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report thinks Barrett would “probably be the focus of that trade” if the Knicks traded for a star this summer.
“The Knicks are loaded with draft picks and prospects, but if they get a stellar trade this summer, RJ Barrett will likely be at the center of that trade,” Buckley wrote. “The 22-year-old hasn’t become quite what New York hoped he would be when they added him with the No. 1 pick. 2.9 assists in the last two seasons speaks volumes about how high the ceiling is for him.
“There are reasons beyond wishful thinking to believe that he is capable of more. Barrett has the physical tools to be a much more consistent defender and has filled that role during some stretches of his four-year career. He shows flashes of great vision and passing, which makes you wonder if directing him could perk up in a better-spaced attack. And while he may never be a lights-out long-range shooter, he’s clearly capable of scoring higher than the 31% splash rate he just recorded (like his 36.7 percent splash rate previous two seasons).”