Knicks forward RJ Barrett broke out of a shooting slump in Monday’s home victory over Milwaukee, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Barrett, who had converted just 36.7% of his field goal attempts over the past six games leading into Monday, set the tone early with 14 points in the first quarter, ultimately finishing with 21 on 8-of-14 shooting in 28 minutes.
“I got into a good rhythm early in the game, helped us get a lead,” Barrett said. “After that, it was kind of trying to play the game and listen to what the game was telling me to do.”
Barrett, 23, is in the first season of a four-year, $107MM+ rookie scale extension.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- The Christmas Day win snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Bucks, with three of those losses coming in 2023/24, notes Braziller of The New York Post. The Knicks had just been defeated by Milwaukee on Saturday. “[It meant] a lot, just because obviously we struggled against this team throughout this year, so the fact that we came up with a win today, it’s special,” said Jalen Brunson, who scored a game-high 38 points. “I liked the way we had a lead and no matter how much they cut the lead down we stayed poised and figured out a way to keep it.”
- Brunson’s performance today was a reminder of his “elite ability,” according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, who takes a look at the connection between Brunson and Adrian Griffin. The Bucks head coach played with Brunson’s father Rick in the CBA and coached with the elder Brunson in Chicago. “He’s tough because he has all the nuances,” Griffin said of Jalen. “He knows how to draw fouls. He can shoot the 3 off the dribble. He has a pull-up off the bounce, and then he can finish at the rim. He’s a very high IQ player.”
- According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, “some prominent members” of the Knicks view Hawks guard Dejounte Murray as an “ideal trade target.” However, there’s a significant hurdle to a deal coming together: Murray’s agent is Klutch Sports Group’s Rich Paul, who is “reluctant to do business” with New York. As Begley writes, Paul would help facilitate a move if Murray specifically asked to be traded to the Knicks, but otherwise prefers not to deal with them. That could change if the Knicks agree to an in-person meeting with Paul to work out their differences, Begley reports.
I can understand why NYK would want Dejounte but it’s not happening unless Trae gets seriously hurt in the next few weeks & we decide to tank. It shouldn’t take a genius to see why the Hawks, a terrible defensive team, would wanna keep their elite defensive guard. Especially considering that he just signed a long term team friendly contract extension
Young and Murray haven’t exactly clicked. I can see them trying to move him. To change it up a bit and upgrade. Just don’t see them trading Murray to NY.
Raptors should be all in on Murray. OG can fit with Young. They’d have to get more than OG. Now you move Hunter. Hawks seem like they are regressing. I thought they’d be much better.
Klutch is not so much against the Knicks as they are 100% against Thibs who has consistently disrespected their clients like CAM and as a Knicks fan who hates THIBS to my Core I don’t blame them
It’s not like Reddish significantly produced since leaving the Knicks. When they traded for him they were looking for him to take the next step. He didn’t. And the Knicks had other options to explore over a player they saw no future in.
So yes they disrespected Reddish. But he is play did not earn him the respect he felt he was due.
Not imo. If you can get my be. It’s probably cause you ain’t doing what they need you to do. Cam had the opportunity in NY. He just wasn’t up for it.
Reddish is horrible. If Klutch and Rich Paul are holding a grudge because Thibs wouldn’t play Reddish then that is childish and stupid. It’s also not in the best interest of Klutch’s other clients.
Murray is also already under contract for the next three years so I’m not sure what ‘business’ Klutch/Paul would need to conduct with the Knicks.
Losing Kevin Huerter REALLY (I’m trying really hard not to use the word hurt lol) cost the Hawks a chance to build and move forward.
Huerter was the perfect compliment to the Hawks, he was precisely what they needed. He was a versatile defender, excellent shooter, and he could make some plays on his sister thing.
No prominent member of the NYK FO speaks with Begley. Murray makes no sense as trade target for the NYK, and anyone who thinks he does has no place in any FO. Since Murray is already signed to an extension, Rich Paul is irrelevant to any trade decision. That’s pretty much it.
Tired of hearing about Paul and his attitude towards Knicks. Funk all his players. Keep them and your ares away from MSG.
Knicks have to be looking at another big. I know Thibs doesn’t want young guys. But I have always like Bamba and Wiseman. Both still have upside to me. I’d be thrilled to get either. A more realistic target would be Drummond. You know for me !!!! It would have to be DeM and Drummond. This is a very doable trade.
Would love either Drummond or Wiseman. I don’t think either would cost much.
What does an agent have to do with a player trade when that player (Dejounte Murray) is under contract throught 27-28?
Unless I am missing something an agent has zero power to stop a trade.
Yes but they can influence their client (prayer) where to go. Like it seems he is doing for LaVine to Lakers. This is part of the BronGM doings. Freak him
IMO IQ is a keeper in any deal for OG or Murray. I would hate to give up RJ or Grimes but sometimes you have to give up to get someone special. I love Deuce as well wish he would get more of a opportunity.
@darinc – let me introduce you to Ben Simmons, James Harden, Kevin Durant…