2. Hammer Out RJ Barrett Extension
The New York Knicks are currently holding a dubious streak. It isn’t too rare for a team to sign a rookie to a second contract, in fact, it is pretty commonplace. But, it has been something that has eluded the Knicks for a long time.
The last time New York signed a first-round pick to a multi-year extension was Charlie Ward, who was selected in the first round of the 1994 draft. David Lee was the closest they have been since, as he signed the one-year qualifying offer. Mitchell Robinson signing a four-year, $60 million contract is the first rookie to sign a multi-year deal since Ward.
Hopefully, RJ Barrett snaps the first-round pick drought. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft is eligible for his rookie extension this offseason and it is something that should be hammered out before the deadline on the eve of the regular season.
Thus far, Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and Darius Garland have signed max rookie extensions. There will be a healthy debate about whether or not Barrett is worth that much money. He has improved each season he has been in the NBA, but he has not reached All-Star status like his draft class peers.
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The Knicks want to keep Barrett around and he wants to be in New York. Hopefully, the two sides can find a sweet spot that both parties are happy with. If the Knicks can convince Barrett to sign a deal similar to the one Jaylen Brown has with the Boston Celtics, they would be in business.
More likely than not, they land on a deal that pays him around $30 million annually. It isn’t quite a max, but it shows that the organization is confident he can get to that next level. That annual value would also put him a hair above Julius Randle, which is where his representation could start negotiations.
