RJ Barrett

New York Knicks gain steal in 47th overall pick Ignas Brazdeikis?

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New York Knicks, Ignas Brazdeikis

The New York Knicks moved up eight spots (55 to 47) with the Sacramento Kings to grab Michigan forward Ignas Brazdeikis in the 2019 NBA Draft. As Ignas fell, the Knicks knew they had to make a move for the talented scorer — a player that will hopefully make an impact on a team full of youth and hope.

“Well this guy is going in the first round,” Mills, the Knicks team president, previously stated, according to the NY Daily News. “We’re not going to have a chance to get him. And as we watched the draft play out, our analytics guys, he rates out really high as a rotational NBA player. So we said, when there’s an opportunity to go get him, we decided that was something important for us to do.”

Ignas has the ability to be a true sixth-man — a player that can come in spark offensive production. His speed and impact on the game are impressive, which is why the Knicks didn’t think twice about moving up to grab him.

The statistical analysis by the Knicks have him being a solid rotational player – add in a solid combine performance and he’s a value pick at 47. Averaging 14.8 points-per-game with Michigan in his freshman year, the Knicks know what they’re getting from the winger.

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Pairing him with RJ Barrett in the draft, the Knicks walk away with two solid players that can develop into true assets. Clearly, Barrett will play a more immediate role on the starting team.

“I’m a relentless player, I don’t fear anyone or anything,” Brazdeikis said. “I don’t back down from anyone, either. I’m very confident in myself and my abilities as well. I go as hard as I can every single game. I do whatever it takes to help the team win. I’m aggressive. I feel like I know who I am as a basketball player.”

Despite his glaring confidence, Ignas has his fair share of deficiencies. Defense and elite athleticism to name a few, however, he’s great around the rim and shot 39% from behind the arc last year. He can be a better version of Steve Novak in a sense.

It will be interesting to see how the Knicks use him in his first year as a professional.

New York Knicks: D’Angelo Russell looking more like a reality

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New York Knicks, D'Angelo Russell

With Kyrie Irving reportedly taking his talents to the Brooklyn Nets, the New York Knicks are in a good position to pursue D’Angelo Russell for their starting point guard position.

Irving, who was unhappy in Boston, will make his return to New York with the Nets being the favored team. The atmosphere and direction they’re headed seem to be more in-line with Kyrie’s goals. That will certainly influence the decision of superstar Kevin Durant and other free agents looking to make a move to the Big Apple.

Russell has already stated he wants to stay in New York, which is a good sign for the Knicks since it would be a short drive up to Madison Square Garden.

SNY’s Ian Begley stated:

“If Irving ends up signing in Brooklyn, it may have an interesting ripple effect on the roster, particularly D’Angelo Russell.”

“Russell, a restricted free agent, will likely draw significant interest on the open market. The 23-year-old is coming off of an All-Star season in which he helped lead Brooklyn to the playoffs. Members of the Pacers organization are high on Russell” [SNY]

After drafting RJ Barrett with the 3rd overall pick on Thursday night, it leaves the point guard position thin. They do have Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina at the spot, but the reality is neither will likely be franchise caliber players. Smith Jr. is a solid offensive performer but needs to work on his defense.

Russell presents an elite option that likely wouldn’t require a max-contract to sign. That allows the Knicks to bring in a superstar and more, which would help the team ‘establish a sense of veteranship and stability. Additionally, having quality depth is always a positive thing.

However, they should still be focused on providing their young players with ample playing time to aid their development. I do think, though, that Russell would be a great addition for the Knicks.

 

New York Knicks Summer League

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The New York Knicks open up their NBA Summer League with a bang.  The newest New York Knick, RJ Barrett, will face off against his former teammate/roommate Zion Williamson, now a New Orleans Pelican.

The first game, against the Pelicans, is on ESPN on Friday July 5th at 9:30 p.m. EST.  The Knicks have three games following the first matchup of RJ & Zion. Sunday, July 7th against the Phoenix Suns.  Tuesday, July 9th against the defending champion Toronto Raptors.  Then their finale against the Los Angeles Lakers.  All games are at 9:30 p.m. EST.

The faithful Knick fans will see the draft pick that pretty much everyone cheered for. Barrett is ready for New York and so are the fans.  He may even be as loved as Zion is, well at least with New York fans.

Barrett does have a lot of pressure on him, but he is embracing that.  Kevin Knox had the same last year when he was selected 9th overall.  Knox had a very strong summer league, but a sub-par season.

Barrett will be a different story.  He was the number one player out of high school and in college, until Zion happened.  Barrett will be able to come to New York, be a plug-in, starter and produce.  He wants to be in New York and ready for whatever.  The Knicks organization and fans expect big things from RJ.

New York Knicks: What does Michigan’s Ignas Brazdeikis bring to the team?

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New York Knicks, Michigan Wolverines, Ignas Brazdeikis

The New York Knicks were keen on bringing in swingman style players this year during the draft, selecting Duke’s RJ Barrett and Ignas Brazdeikis from Michigan.

The Knicks traded up from 55 to 47, swapping with Sacramento for cash considerations. The lefty, who spent just one season with Michigan, started all 37 games for the Wolverines, shooting 39.2 percent from behind the arc and averaged a team-high 14.8 points.

The New York Knicks gained a true competitor:

The Lithuanian impressed in his only college season, proving he’s a capable and athletic scorer. He will add a different dimension to the Knicks – imagine a more athletic Steve Novak.

“He’s a hard-nosed, tough guy who drives fearlessly, can make a jumper but a little undersized for a 4,’’ NBA consultant to basketball operations Chris Ekstrand said, according to the New York Post. “He’ll be combo forward, and it will depend on matchups.”

Getting a high-percentage three-point shooter involved in the offense will help the overall scoring production of the team, he’s a bit small for a forward but will be utilized to expose key matchups.

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The 6-foot-8 winger has the physicality to compete in the paint at the NBA level, however, he will need to refine his abilities and adapt to the strength of professional players. A high basketball IQ accompanies the 20-year-old. His craftiness around the hoop will allow him to assist his teammates and provide a safety net.

Brazdeikis is mostly a strict scorer, averaging just 0.8 assists. He’s a 77% free throw shooter as well, above the average in the NBA. It will be interesting to see how the Knicks utilize him in their scheme and what role he will play in his rookie season.

New York Knicks: Will RJ Barrett lure big free agents to Big Apple?

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

As expected, the New York Knicks selected Duke star RJ Barrett with the 3rd overall pick. After fending off the Atlanta Hawks for the Knicks’ first-round pick, it was nearly a guarantee they’ be selecting the 6-foot-7 swingman.

Barrett will bring a tenacious mentality towards success and production in New York, despite shooting just 31% from behind the arc and 67% from the free-throw line last season. Those two deficiencies will be ironed out in his rookie campaign, but his potential remains sky-high.

What does RJ Barrett bring to the New York Knicks?

An elite scorer around the rim and solid defender, RJ has the ability to take the Knicks to another level during his career. His influence alone should be a catalyst in luring max-contract players to the Mecca.

The hardest part in recruiting superstars will be convincing them to have faith in the youth agenda the Knicks are following. A majority of their players are under 20-years-old, which puts the team in a good position. If they aren’t able to bring in a player like Kevin Durant, they can simply continue forward with their young players and continue developing them.

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However, signing Durant and a high-profile point guard would go a long way in the growth of the young players and allowing them to see success early on in their careers. A devastatingly poor season in 2018 surely didn’t help them in their overall confidence, but it was essential for them to earn playing time and understand the talent they must compete against.

Barrett, though, is versed in competition, and would likely have been the consensus No. 1 pick if Zion Williamson hadn’t taken college basketball by storm. Moving forward, we should expect to see the Knicks aggressively pursue Durant and Kawhi Leonard in free agency.

With rumors of Kyrie Irving taking his talents to the Brooklyn Nets, D’Angelo Russell has emerged as a legitimate option for the Knicks beyond Irving and Kemba Walker.

New York Knicks: RJ Barrett is a must draft, Coach K reaffirms talents

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New York Knicks, Duke, RJ Barrett

The New York Knicks hold the 3rd overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft which will commence on Thursday, and after fending off the Atlanta Hawks, they’re in a position to select a true building block.

Duke star RJ Barrett was the consensus No. 1 pick before Zion Williamson took college basketball by storm, but his talents shouldn’t be overlooked.

The almighty “Coach K” has advocated for the star player, stating:

“RJ will flourish here in New York,’’ Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said on his SiriusXM on Tuesday. “He wants to be here. He is so mature. He just turned 19 last Friday, but he’s been a part of the Canadian basketball program since [he was] a little guy, always played up.”

At just 19 years-old, Barrett is in a great position to develop his abilities and mature in a city that doesn’t sleep on tearing players apart in the media. He has the intangibles traits to brush off the criticism and begin convincing New York he can be the star they need for the next decade.

The 6-foot-7 swingman will be an elite presence on the court alongside Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, and hopefully a max-contract player or two. He’s a part of the future for the Knicks or at least should be, considering his capabilities and potential at the professional level.

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Coach K further said in regards to the Duke product:

“This kid is a multi-dimensional player,’’ Krzyzewski said. “He would start right away. He has the potential to be a double-double guy. He’s a great defensive rebounder, and if he gets the defensive rebound he can push, and he can play one through four. Because he can pass, too. As he grows, there’ll be times in this kid’s career where the triple-double will happen more than once. He’s a star. There’s no question. Beautiful, beautiful kid.”

Coming from one of the best coaches in the history of college basketball, it’s fair to say his opinion is held in great regard. There’s little doubt the Knicks will take Barrett with their first-round selection because if they don’t, the fan-base might riot Steve Mills and Scott Perry out of the front office.

What if the New York Knicks are presented with Ja Morant at No. 3?

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Could the New York Knicks draft Ja Morant if they miss out on Zion Williamson?

Fending off the Atlanta Hawks and their attempt to steal the 3rd overall pick in exchange for numbers 8 and 10 was easy for the New York Knicks. They have the rare opportunity to draft a building block — a player that can come in and immediately make a difference on both sides of the ball.

At this point in time, Barrett seems like the sure-fire pick ahead of the draft, however, what if the Memphis Grizzlies pass on Ja Morant? Or rather, the New Orleans Pelicans maneuver around and find a way to draft both Zion Williamson and Barrett – they are best friends.

Either Barrett or Morant offers immense value to a Knicks organization looking to start anew, in fact, it might actually present an even better value.

It would allow the Knicks to pass over the point guard position in regards to a max-contract and go all-in on players like Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. Morant has the skill-set to not only dominate at the NBA level but continuously improve as he adapts to the strength and speed of the league.

Morant averaged 24.5 points in his second season with Murray State, also racking up an average of 10 assists per game. His statistics are more impressive than Barrett’s but simply due to Zion taking up a lot of the offensive attention. With Williamson, RJ might prove to be the better player statistically but adding a star point guard might be the difference maker the Knicks need.

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Either player will ultimately help the team improve significantly, however, Morant would aid in the development of Knox and Robinson even further. His influence might also draw attention from some more recognizable players.

According to the New York Post, an NBA executive who has spoken to Steve Mills stated that the Knicks would be more than delighted to have either player.

“The Knicks have a good problem to have — Pick 3 in a three-man draft,” the NBA executive said. “They just have to wait and see.”

 

Proof the New York Knicks are all in on RJ Barrett at No. 3

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The New York Knicks are considering drafting RJ Barrett with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

With RJ Barrett playing second-fiddle to Zion Williamson at Duke, it allowed him to slip behind in the draft pick race, as he’s now the expected 3rd overall selection to the New York Knicks.

The reality is, Barrett would’ve been the top pick if Zion didn’t take the college scene by storm with his abnormal athleticism and ability. The tenacious scorer and defender, Barrett, has the skill-set to be the top pick with ease, in fact, most consider him a foundational player — an option that you build upon and design your offense after.

The New York Knicks need to keep their priorities straight:

With the slew of talent added by the Knicks in recent years, it’s important they focus on their youth agenda moving forward. Adding a max-contract player is important and necessary, but building around players like Barrett, Kevin Knox, and Mitchell Robinson should be prioritized.

However, the reason and proof behind the Knicks being all in on Barrett is written on the wall. General manager Scott Perry didn’t even blink an eye towards the Pelicans in a potential Anthony Davis trade.

They offered the Pelicans a lackluster deal that would’ve seen them acquire Davis on a steal while also giving up the 3rd overall pick. In other terms, it was an offering that was never going to happen, but if it did, it would’ve been a huge surprise, and win.

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Recently, the Atlanta Hawks offered the 8th and 10th overall picks to trade up to No. 3, an offer the Knicks laughed at all the way to their draft board. The proof is in the pudding, folks. The Duke star is nearly a lock for the Knicks, as he should be. Averaging 22.6 points-per-game and 4.3 assists-per-game, his attributes will help develop a Knicks team that has struggled to earn wins in recent years.

New York Knicks should focus on building around RJ Barrett first and foremost

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New York Knicks, Duke, RJ Barrett

One of the most polarizing scorers in college basketball, Duke star RJ Barrett will, in all likeliness, be bringing his talents to the New York Knicks next season.

Despite the rumors indicating the Knicks will pursue several high-profile free agents with plenty of cap space, their youth agenda should be prioritized, especially when it comes to Barrett. Building around him and his lethal style of play will, probability wise, end up being the route they take.

Adding a superstar like Kevin Durant is very possible, and more than welcomed, but the reality is, there are other teams more suited to win now than continue on towards a full-rebuild.

The focus needs to be on Barrett and what he brings to New York. At the forefront is his elite confidence – Kobe Bryant-style mentality that believes he’s better than the player in front of him. He is looking to embarrass them at every turn.

The New York Knicks are headed in the right direction if they pick RJ Barrett:

“This kid is like a real 1988 New Yorker. He’s not some 2016 Instagram model. He’s trying to kill you,” Barrett’s youth coach Dwayne Washington stated (The Knicks Blog). “He is what people say New Yorkers are supposed to be — aggressive, determined, confident and always pushing the envelope. That’s how you get to greatness.”

Quietly building a case for himself behind Zion Williamson, Barrett earned impressive statistics – 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Without Zion taking the spotlight, RJ would’ve likely been the 1st overall pick in the draft.

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A superstar will only benefit Barrett in New York:

The fact of the matter is, Barrett will need a star player to help him develop at his own pace. He won’t be able to come to the vicious media-driven spektical of New York and shine with ease, there will be a learning curve he needs to overcome. However, he has tangible and intangibles skills to eventually develop into the top player for the Knicks, but a veteran mentor that can carry the load early on is necessary.

So, while the Knicks need to be focused on Barrett and building around him, it’s essential they lure a max-contract player to help him in his growth and ultimate succession of the throne.

New York Knicks are running out of superstar options in free agency

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Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Kyrie Irving

With the 2018 NBA season coming to a close on the backs of the Toronto Raptors and Kawhi Leanard, the New York Knicks will now begin meddling in free agency.

With Kevin Durant tearing his Achilles and expected to miss all of 2019, the premium players are dropping like flies. Add in Klay Thompson’s knee injury, Kyrie Irving’s desire to join the Brooklyn Nets, and Kemba Walker being loyal to the Hornets stating he would take less than a max deal, and the Knicks are in big trouble.

It’s possible they still pursue Durant despite his injury, but it would require them to unload a massive amount of money for essentially no value. However, his return in 2020 would put the organization in a good position to win immediately, especially if they collect another top pick and provide RJ Barrett with a year’s worth of experience.

The New York Knicks could be forced into making a difficult decision:

The scenario where the Knicks save some of their money and stick to their youth guns isn’t a bad one, in fact, it could be the only one after the smoke clears. It’s expected that general manager Scott Perry will pursue Kawhi Leonard in free agency — he believes a meeting is more than possible.

The likeliness of convincing a player like Leonard to come to the bright lights of New York is, well…unlikely. It’s not impossible, though.

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Sticking with Durant and allowing him to fully heal for a year while the Knicks continue to develop their youth isn’t a bad idea. They should stay far away from a potential Anthony Davis trade and begin to think about how they can utilize their ample cap-space to build a competent team capable of winning in the NBA.

It’s getting to a point where the organization could be deemed stagnant if they don’t make any moves this offseason.