New York Knicks and winger RJ Barrett are finalizing a four-year extension to his rookie contract worth up to $120 million. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.quoting Barrett’s agent Bill Duffy.
The Knicks are reportedly chasing Donovan Mitchell, but team president Leon Rose set a deadline Monday to trade him for the Utah Jazz guard or extend Barrett’s contract. According to WojnarowskiThe Knicks and the Jazz have reportedly failed to reach an agreement on trade details in recent days, with both sides refusing to make further concessions.
The extension doesn’t necessarily mean the end of potential trades for Mitchell, but it’s further complicated by the NBA’s so-called “poison pill” rule. If traded before July, his salary would be calculated at $10.9 million for the Knicks, which is the value of the final season of his rookie contract. He will receive $26.2 million for Cap.
Both sides are still open to a deal involving Barrett, according to the report. But with his extension, the Knicks and the Jazz should, in effect, start negotiations if they choose to pursue further trades. Barrett plans to sign a contract extension in the first offseason when he is eligible.
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Barrett, 22, is nearing the fourth season of the four-year, $35.6 million contract he signed as a rookie in 2019. The Knicks selected him with his No. 3 pick from Duke in the 2019 Draft. Since joining the NBA, he has increased his output each season by averaging 14.3 and 17.6 points before posting 20 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3 assists per game last season.
His overall output improved, but his efficiency took a step back in 2021-22. After shooting 44.1% from the field and 40.1% from 3-point range in the 2020-21 season, he shot 40.8% from the field and 34.2% from 3-point range last season.