Decision making in a front office is vital to an NBA team success. Last summer, the New York Knicks let great talent such as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving get away to put the new Brooklyn Nets in title contention.
RJ Barrett was selected No. 3 in the 2019 NBA Draft as a first-round pick. His rookie season was solid averaging 14 points and five rebounds last season. Unlike Memphis Grizzlies Rookie of the year winner Ja Morant, the Duke product walked into a culture with no identity or NBA championship aspirations since the 2012-13 Knicks roster led by Carmelo Anthony.
The Knicks ranked 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 21-45 record via ESPN. 21 games won in the regular season will make a team below .500 a lottery team by default. Barrett is an explosive forward who can push the ball in transition and finish through contact. If he gets a steady shot, he’ll be a monster within years to come. However, on a four-year rookie deal worth $35.6 million, will Barrett remain content with his money like Anthony in the past or leave after his contract expires to join a contender?
One issue the front office have is relying on its star to carry the franchise rather than reconstructing the franchise from top to bottom. If head coaches are fired after a horrible season, the Knicks only go after subpar talent that have yet to develop their game.
Knicks owner James Dolan isn’t ready to sell the team and the 2020-21 NBA season in New York will have cameras pointing in the direction of the Nets led by Kevin Durant.
With a promising career, Barrett has a chance to make the best of his situation since no five-star prospect wants to come and play at Madison Square Garden. The 2020 NBA Draft is approaching and with the No. 8 pick, Barrett will need a incoming rookie who can score at a high volume with an efficient shooting percentage from the field. Lamelo Ball would be an ideal pick but the chances of him drafted as a late top-10 pick is unlikely.
Barrett is ready but remains a question mark as the face of the Knicks franchise.
Click on the next page for Barrett’s highlights last season.