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.
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.