Despite an agreement on a lucrative extension and significant complications from the “poison pill provision,” sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (video link via The Rally) that Knicks wing RJ Barrett could still be offered in a trade for Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell.
“It’s not expected that he is going to be ruled out of any potential trade, and I’m told through various sources that RJ Barrett could very well end up being in a potential deal and being in offers depending on the framework of a deal,” Charania said.
According to Charania, New York’s latest offer for Mitchell included Barrett and two unprotected first-round picks, but the Jazz wanted more in return for the three-time All-Star, so the Knicks wound up giving Barrett an extension.
As we outline in our glossary entry, a player who signs a rookie scale extension but remains on his rookie contract has different outgoing and incoming salary-matching figures, which is referred to as a “poison pill” — in Barrett’s case, the gap between his outgoing and incoming figures will reportedly exceed $15MM. That would make it extremely challenging for both the Knicks and Jazz to send out and take back a legal amount of salary if Barrett is part of a package for Mitchell.
As Charania notes, the Knicks still have other assets to include in a deal that doesn’t involve Barrett, with the Jazz reportedly prioritizing landing as many unprotected first-rounders as possible. New York remains “hopeful” that it can still land Mitchell without including Barrett, and wouldn’t have extended him if the team thought it would nix a potential deal, a source tells Marc Berman of The New York Post.
According to Berman, the Lakers are “open to discussions” about a potential three-team trade, and still have interest in Knicks wing Cam Reddish, who received scant playing time after being acquired from Atlanta in January. Charania previously reported that the Lakers are also interested in Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic.
Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News reports (Twitter links) that Barrett’s extension is a straight four-year deal with no options and includes $107MM in guaranteed money. Barrett could earn as much as $120MM from incentives, but he’ll still be making an average of $26.75MM per season from 2023-27.
Breaking news, no one has any clue about anything.
Just do the F’N trade. We all know that Mitchell is going to be traded to the Knicks this week!
The rumor mill says they’re working on a 3-team deal. Those can take awhile. Might not be this week, especially with RJ’s contract messing things up.
Although, I could see RJ going to the Lakers and it’s closer to Westbrook’s contract. They’d get those picks and give them to the Jazz. That’s 4 unprotected. Then add Grimes, McBride, Toppin and salary for Donovan, Gay, and Conley be done? Bojan could be dealt in a side deal.
The lakers can get barrett for Westbrook and 2 unprotected….huh?
Um no!
Yeah the Lakers are trying to get players for Westbrick without giving up 2 firsts. That is the hold up.
Be assured this day will come. It’s just a matter of time. Could be one month, could be two months.
Why should the Lakers benefit from and thing to do with Westbrick? RJ is not going to the Lakers. The Lakers will get non stars for Westbrick even if the 2 firsts are in the trade. I am not saying RJ is a star but he has potential to get there.
@Benboy – Where would the Knicks find ~$80M in cap room to make what you suggested happen?
I also love the idea of having Brunson, Westbrook, Conley, AND Rose as your PG rotation.
KPJ and Martin Jr with 3rd round pick from Houston for Mitchell and 2023 2nd round pick.
Can’t see them giving up their 3rd round pick. You know how much talent is hidden in the third round of the NBA draft?
I think he meant the Houston Astros 3rd round pick.
I didn’t realize there was a 3rd round anymore? =)
Side note:. Mark Eaton was drafted by Phoenix Suns, 5th round (19th pick, 107th overall), 1979 NBA Draft, and Utah Jazz, 4th round (3rd pick, 72nd overall), 1982 NBA Draft.
So he was drafted twice? Didn’t know that was possible. Lol Anyway, he ended up as the best shot blocker of all-time.
Much like Wilt Chamberlain is really the all-time leading scorer. Neither played that long compared to Kareem. Wilt Chamberlain really was the beast of all beasts. Amazing stats that just boggle the mind. I don’t see how they can say anyone is even close to being as good as he was? He really should’ve played longer and then there’d be no question.
BTW, if you’re suggesting it’s the 3rd pick in the draft then that’s not possible. You can’t guarantee any pick in the draft. Even if you have the worst record there’s no guarantee you’ll get the top pick anymore. It’s all percentages.
If it was a typo and you really meant a 1st round pick then that’s not bad. If it’s the 2023 pick on both then the pick could end up being a lottery pick. Donovan would instantly make them win more games than they have been. Might not make the playoffs, but you never know. However, Donovan might not want to play there. You’d be smart to get his approval first. You also might need another pick in there just to be safe.
They were being facetious
Westbrook could be dealt to the Rockets. Rockets give those picks and they’re own to the Jazz plus those two guys for Donovan and maybe Conley. That’d give the Rockets a veteran backcourt instantly.
The Rockets are still rebuilding. They don’t want that veteran backcourt.
I wonder what Barrett did to earn 27 millions per year! Maybe his first round exit against Hawks.
In that case MJ should’ve been paid a billion per year back then with Bulls
Jordan didn’t really need the money. He just needed to be paid the most for the time. The salary cap was much different then. There wasn’t a luxury tax either.
Seems like every rookie who is decent gets these huge contracts. It’s really crushing teams’ flexibility to improve.
A big reason the CBA will be reopened is what you just said.
Knicks are working on a trade for Zion Williamson and will likely have to trade multiple firsts and a pair of rotation players to get him.
Hahaha that OG Kush is kicking in huh. That’s the funniest s**t I’ve heard thank you!!
The Knicks don’t need another big, but he would be better than what they have. You could make Zion have to walk to work every day. He’d be slimmed down physically and financially in no time! Lol
I remember when it was all but guaranteed that Mitchell was a Knick. It’s like when LeBron was guaranteed to be a Knick in 2010…and the many times other stars were guaranteed to be Knicks…like KD, Anthony Davis, Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, etc. etc. The only one they got was Starmeeeeeeelo.
A big round of applause for Mr Marlin.
The Lakers have interest in many players who will never end up in the city of age. Laughable. Prediction Mitchell stays put and the Knicks continue their pursuit of mediocrity.
I’m Ruling him OUT ……..
Rather keep RJ than Mitchell. YUP
First he cost you nothing but $$$$$
So you can still go and get someone with those 7 (#1) picks ….. Seven
Or you can just draft to add to this team. Only Randle has to go. Has to ….. no more soaps in NY.
That’s actually a reasonable number on RJ’s extension.
With the rising cap, even if Barrett only negligibly improves, 26M a year for four years will probably be market value for an above average starter (see: Brunson, Jalen).
But if he reaches his potential that will be one of the best values in the league.
By comparison, Zion’s contract will pay him 33-35-38-41-44M – obviously he’s the way better player when healthy. But he could succumb to a bag of Doritos next season.
Agreed. RJ getting what he got for solid D and 20 ppg and a decent ceiling I’d say is very reasonable in todays NBA. Personally I think he’ll only improve over time and don’t see a reason to make the Mitchell trade if RJ is part of the deal. To me it almost defeats the purpose.
Agreed – pairing RJ with DM makes the most sense to me as well
The Nets will have a better record than the Knicks. Mitchell can’t improve the Knicks enough for it to be otherwise.
Keep all your picks and players Knicks. Your doing fine.
KD, Simmons and Irving compared to maybe Mitchell, Brunson and umm Barrett maybe that’s going out out a limb there bruh.