Knicks renew 22-year-old guard Barrett, first player in team history to sign long-term rookie contract

2022-08-30 14:52

Knicks renew 22-year-old guard Barrett, first player in team history to sign long-term rookie contract


The New York Knicks officially announced today that they have signed 22-year-old guard R.J. Barrett to a four-year, $120 million max rookie contract extension.


Barrett was selected by the Knicks with the third overall pick in the 2019 league draft. The rookie's performance level is also gradually rising. Highest averaged 20 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.2 blocks per game. 34.2 percent from 3-point range and 40.8 percent from pitch.


However, the Knicks have been hoping to reach a deal with the Utah Jazz in the offseason for the services of 25-year-old guard Donovan Mitchell , and even traded Barrett, the third pick, to push the deal forward. But the Jazz still felt that acquiring Barrett and 22-year-old forward Quentin Grimes in the deal was not a value-for-money deal, and asked for more first-round picks in trade talks.


Because Leon Rose, the Knicks president of basketball operations, believes the team has made enough concessions in this trade negotiation, yesterday was the final trade negotiation deadline and a choice between re-signing Barrett or trading. Until today, the deal has not been reached, so the Knicks announced the renewal of Barrett, and a "poison pill" clause of anti-takeover measures was also added to this contract, which means that Barrett will not. Will be used as a bargaining chip in the Mitchell trade case again.


It is worth noting that Barrett became the team's first first-round pick to sign a long-term rookie contract since Charlie Ward in 1999.