With RJ Barrett on the verge of completing a nine-figure contract extension with the Knicks, and the idea of including him in a deal for Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell becoming a remote possibility, it allows us a firmer sense of what the New York squad might look like as if and when the clubs could finally settle in. on a business deal.
In some ways, though, it also presents two key questions for Barrett, coach Tom Tebodeau and the Knicks front office as a whole – all of whom will hold greater expectations ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. With that in mind, we’ve looked at the two biggest intriguing things we’d have if New York had Mitchell’s handling in the next month and a half.
What will be Barrett’s role?
As disappointing as last season was for the Knicks, who went from being a surprising No. 4 seed in 2021 to failing even to take part in the playoff round in 22, Barrett delivered amazing stretches that provided reason to believe he could handle even more weight. on his shoulders.
Specifically, he had 14 games after the All-Star break as he averaged 26.5 points, 6.4 boards and 3.9 assists – something he accomplished before he was 22 years old. He’s also largely done so by hitting the line more often (closer to nine times a night), which is a welcome sign because his efficiency from the field still has room for improvement.
During this part of the season and at intervals throughout the campaign, Barrett demonstrated greater comfort in reaching his right hand and finishing on the right side of the basket, making more use of defenses that failed to return in the transition. He’s once again left with a less-than-perfect scenario on guard after Kemba Walker’s trial caught up early in the year, and instead put Alec Burks in that setting role.
With that in mind, there’s no doubt Barrett could benefit from playing alongside a couple of keepers who score threats, but who are also used to finding teammates. Where there is a question, though, is within the role. If Mitchell joins the Knicks – and does so with Barrett and Julius Randle remaining – where does Barrett drop in the attacking squad? secondly? third? Fourth, even?
Mitchell, one of the top scorers in the league, had a 32.2% utilization rate, One of the highest last season in the NBA. So it’s fair to assume it would be the best dog, eating the most possessions. And while Jalen Brunson’s usage wasn’t nearly as high last year, it’s worth noting that he shared the field with Luka Dončić, whose 36.8% usage mark was the highest among the wingers in the league. When Bronson played without Luca, the norm was 26.6% – similar to what Randle (27.9) and Barrett (26.8) enjoyed last year.
Regardless of how the rates break down, it seems very likely that Barrett will have a lot less on his hands when playing with the base five – a nice dynamic given the stretch that is being completed between him and the Knicks. On some level, it can be seen as positive that better cutlery utensils are in circulation. However, Barrett is not a knockout shooter, and without expecting to be a three-point specialist among the rookies to help space the team, it’s not as if having the youngster standing along the three-point streak would give him a better efficiency on his own. He still needs more opportunities as a playmaker. (Maybe some of that could come from playing a decent portion of his minutes with the team’s second unit?)
Watch NBA live with fuboTV: start your free trial today.
Barrett has a salary escalator in his deal that is powered by making an All-Star team and earning other league-level honors. That’s part of what makes Mitchell’s potential acquisition (plus Bronson’s signature) so interesting: Barrett’s bids, and perhaps even Barrett’s signing, will almost certainly see a dip given who’s joining the team. The Knicks are hoping his appearance will improve due to the increased offensive talent around him.
It’s a gamble of sorts: by choosing to go this route – sticking with Barrett, and instead looking to tackle a boatload of Mitchell’s first-round picks – they are counting on the youngster to become a star and perhaps give up most of his draft – pick a war chest to be able to get Another fund other than Mitchell in the future. But if you want Barrett to thrive into an undisputed star, presumably he’ll need more opportunities to handle the ball himself.
What happens to the defense if Mitchell is brought in?
There’s at least one thing we can assume about Barrett’s role if Mitchell is brought in: he will almost certainly have to be at his best as an assisting defender given who plays behind him.
If you watched Bronson’s post-season explosion a few months agoOr, if you’ve ever watched jazz on any given night, you’ve probably seen bits and pieces of how far Mitchell is on the defensive side of the ball. Vitality arrived ringerDan Devine: He earned a “flaming dash in the opening round of the playoffs.” (He certainly wasn’t alone in this regard. But to be clear: He was often the worst offender, leaving Rudy Gobert and the other Jazz players having to put out the flames at the backside.)
One of the most obvious shortcomings of the club featuring Mitchell and Bronson is the nightly volume flaw the Knicks will find themselves in. Both Bronson and Mitchell – both known for their crimes – stand only 6’1″. From a statistical standpoint, Dallas was 5.1 worst points for every 100 possessions defensively last year when Bronson was on the ground. it was jazz 6.5 points worse out of every 100 With Mitchell on the field.
While the tandem would be smaller, it wouldn’t be fair for Bronson to put him in Mitchell’s class — near the bottom of the league by a few measures — defensively. Bronson is at least making consistent efforts to this end. Turns to fight around screensand led the Mavericks in two of the last three seasons in charge, Including 17 last season, which was good for the ninth in the league. And when Dallas withdrew from the playoff on top seed Phoenix, it was mostly because the Suns guards struggled to score as the streak continued. Yes, Dončić gets a lot of credit for showing more effort and attention to detail. But Bronson was also a factor in making life more difficult for Devin Booker and Chris Paul.
A big sporty tire guard like Mitchell Robinson can help clean up some of the mess at the top of the switch. But as we’ve seen with Gobert and Jazz, if opposing guards get free passes to the edge, lots of shots – including those worth more points – will unlock elsewhere throughout the field.
It’s part of the reason why the Knicks are determined to keep 6’5″ Quentin Grimes, their best defensive goalkeeper, if they can. It also shows where Barrett can be of extraordinary value this season, even as the third or fourth option at times inside attack Because New York will need his defense if and when Mitchell actually becomes Nick.
More NBA coverage:
[ad_2]