New York Knicks: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
Drafting RJ Barrett No. 3 overall
The 2019 NBA Draft was regarded as a three-horse race. While the Knicks missed out on the opportunity to select Zion Williamson, they got an excellent consolation prize in his Duke teammate, RJ Barrett.
Coming out of high school Barrett was the No. 1 prospect in his class and he didn’t disappoint at Duke. He broke numerous freshman scoring records, averaging 22.6 points per game.
Scoring was not all he did in college, as he also averaged 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, both incredible numbers for a shooting guard.
Barrett showcased those talents during Summer League play. While he was called a bust after getting off to a slow start, he finished with a bang. Barrett became the first player in Summer League history to average at least 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists per game.
While his shooting percentages left something to be desired, it was nice to see how diverse Barrett’s game was. He was at his best when attacking the basket, which opened up the rest of his game offensively.
The former Blue Devil also handled the ball well, as he was tasked with being the team’s primary ball-handler and playmaker for stretches once Allonzo Trier was sidelined with an injury.
The Barrett and Knicks pairing is a great one. Given the current state of the roster, Barrett will receive plenty of opportunities to help develop his all-around game. Expect him to start right away in the backcourt and be given some point guard responsibilities as well to expand his game.
New York had a no-brainer decision and made the right selection.