Nalod wrote:Im really curious what our FO and Coaches REALLY think of Barrett. This season and his potential trajectory. Perhaps disappointed this season but are they discouraged?
Its fair to say Brunson and a refreshed Randle have changed the dynamic of the team somewhat. RJ is being asked to playmake on the second unit and all the while IQ has demonstrated also a different (for the better) level of play. Grimes insertion matters. This team really has changed year over year.
Team is winning more. Not a detriment.
What is the team telling him to do?
We fans can't answer.

Well, I'd be curious about what other team's FO and coaches think of Barrett. According to Alan Hahn (and despite other media reports saying contrary), RJ was absolutely the key player Utah wanted + draft picks. The Knicks made other offers with other names.

HofstraBBall wrote:

fishmike wrote:I said no because of the cost... sub out RJ for Zach's eff% and the Knicks should be better, but not by much. He's hurt all the time and makes $40mm a year. No way... much rather focus on Grimes/IQ at that spot and I think we will be better.

If I am gonna move on from RJ I would want a legit 3. Ingram is 2 years younger and doesnt have Zach's bad contract. DeAndre Hunter is another one. Cam Thomas is another

Was going to post the same. In order for a team to be better, the cost/production ratio of ONE player must be accounted for. As you said, Lavine would add some clutch scoring but because of health and defensive concerns, value would not be there.

Agree with you both (and Nalod)

DeAndre Hunter would be a dream come true…That’s who I was hoping the Knicks were going to draft in 2019

Nalod wrote:Im really curious what our FO and Coaches REALLY think of Barrett. This season and his potential trajectory. Perhaps disappointed this season but are they discouraged?
Its fair to say Brunson and a refreshed Randle have changed the dynamic of the team somewhat. RJ is being asked to playmake on the second unit and all the while IQ has demonstrated also a different (for the better) level of play. Grimes insertion matters. This team really has changed year over year.
Team is winning more. Not a detriment.
What is the team telling him to do?
We fans can't answer.

Nalod, this one is for you. I had posted this clip in a different thread and made a mistake of assumption and didn’t put any context or background around it. Let me rectify that.

With this type of post I don’t really operate in the “RJ made another blunder so let’s pile on and post a video of him ****ing up” mode, it’s most often because there is a lot more going on. All players make mistakes, it’s the kind of mistakes that really matter, and of course what level and step within development timeline or process the player occupies. RJ has had 3+ years of heavy minutes and usage, as he should. Personally, I think making mistakes over the course of your first couple of years after moving to a new level (college to pros) is really no sweat and part of the process, especially for a virtual non-playoff team (in previous years). After enough usage (and this is a very unclear gray area), a different level of observation and conclusion is meaningful IMO.

I am a barely capable basketball watcher – volleyball is my jam – but I am assuming if I (and others) can see it, coaches blink and they know what is going on and more. I KNOW they are seeing the below and have repeatedly talked to RJ about this particular type of circumstance and this is part of how they will determine what they think of RJ and what we can also see about his growth and where he is within that process.

I think the Knicks podcast and twitter space has really grown in the last couple of years. I like a lot of what the Knicks Film School team and their greater community has put out. Kudos to them.

Here we go, IMHO it's a nutshell RJ play from the Miami game:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/BenRitholtzNBA/status/1632186139439235072

1) RJ gets ball with more than 13 seconds on shot clock and calls for switch to get Herro on him, good call and Grimes obliges. After the screen happens, this is a decision point moment: keep ball or move ball depending on what defense gives him.

2) Miami does not switch, Grimes doesn’t set the best of screens (so slip?) but he also moves nicely out of it to open himself up at top of 3 point line. Almost immediately, RJ completely misses a wide-open Grimes (9 second mark). Not super egregious but he missed the pass. If he passes, Grimes either has wide open shot or it's a 2 on 3 on the opposite side of court. Error #1.

3) From 9 to 6 second mark, RJ decides to dribble ball going nowhere, eating clock for no reason. For part of the time, it seems like Oldapido and Herro are actually doubling him with Grimes sitting wide open at top of key. Error #2.

4) RJ decides going 1 on 1 is the best decision in that moment. RJ is not this type of player, this is not his wheelhouse and he should know this by now. More on this later. Error #3.

5) RJ tries to go right instead of into middle of court (does he have option to go left?). If he shades towards middle of court Hero may come over and that would leave options to move ball? Either way, dribbling down the sidelines is a lack of space recognition. Error #4a.

6) RJ tries to go right... which is his weakness? He is pretty good going and finishing with left, not so good going right. Not altogether egregious cause guys need to be able to go left or right but he also dribbles towards one of the best defenders in the league instead of towards Herro? That's a mental mistake. RJ often has blinders on or makes decisions without regard for anything else. Error #4b.

7) Turnover. Error #5

8) Lollygags back on defense, zero energy or effort. Anti Josh Hart. You see Randle do this a lot too after mistakes unless he is fully engaged. Error #6

9) Doubles down on mistakes by compounding all of the above with an unnecessary foul at other end of court; quite frankly, I can't tell if Randle or RJ is actually fouling or perhaps both but RJ gets called for this foul. Error #7.

For me, point 4) is the big FUBAR moment and the one coaches cringe at. At this point in RJ's career (and this goes for every athlete in every sport) a player must recognize what he can and cannot do. BballIQ. Weaknesses, strengths. Teams will give players a couple of years or more depending on the type of skill and what phase you are in development of that skill and what type of potential ceiling you have but they all want you to do things that you are ready for or almost ready for and stay the hell away from the no-brainer weakness stuff; RJ does not yet have that recognition. Just as much as it would be completely out of place for us to watch Mitch launch 3's, to a much lesser extent, going 1-on-1 in a dribble break-down drive situation is not RJ's strength and there is enough time on clock for team to do something else. Generally speaking, his handle is poor, his footwork is slow, and he doesn't really have burst, plus all of the other options he DOES have on that play.

RJ *is* really good at going downhill when he gets the ball on the move, when he already has momentum behind him (ie going downhill). He has a super strong body that he can shield players with. He is a brute force guy. In games like Boston I think he did this a lot. With the ball in his hands, in certain situations where he can seal his man or back him down. Mostly going left. That is his game. He has been told repeatedly and it has not yet settled in. Over enough time and repetition, that type of thing will make any coach pause to reconsider the player.

These types of plays happen more often than not and in different ways for RJ that read pretty easy IMHO and inform a lot about the player and where he is at in the process. Take it for what you will.

Nalod wrote:

Knixkik wrote:If RJ is that bad, LaVine should be a no-brainer. He’s an elite scorer and a multitime allstar. One of the best shooters and scorers in the league. So why does everyone think we won’t be any better replacing Barrett with LaVine? Remember this isn’t about his injury history or anything. Just what we look like with LaVine getting Barrett’s minutes.

Making allstar teams in the rear view mirror does not help going forward with that max extension and balk knee IF it continues to be an issue.
The thought is RJ has hit his ceiling. Im not convinced he has or has not.

I’m not convinced RJ has hit it either. I am not concerned about LaVines contract. All contracts are about to get crazy. And the Knicks aren’t planning to operate with cap space in the near future. If I pass on a guy like LaVine it’s because he’s not the right fit, not concerned with the contract.

jskinny35 wrote:I like Lavine but his defensive effort is not very consistent - and he physically could be a very good defender as he is an exceptional athlete, is fast, long, etc... His contract is not very good either. The other issue for me is I really believe we don't need another iso-ball scorer as we have 2 very good ball dominant players in Randle and Brunson. If we were to add another - I really think it should be an upgrade at PG (eg Lillard) or at PF (eg Lebron, Giannis, A.Davis). This isn't happening so if we move RJ - I would rather go for an OG-type of player who doesn't need the ball in his hands as much. If we may have a tough time moving RJ - can only imagine we would be more stuck with Lavine due to his injury history, age and larger contract.

Have been a big fan of RJ but I hope for his sake that we find out he is playing through an injury and not just simply struggling to find his way after the demotion to 3rd option since Brunson arrived... he looks worse then his rookie year at times. Agree that he is best when playing downhill and it does seem like our team plays less of that this season - wonder if that's because we now have 3 iso-focused players when last year it was just 2.

Maybe Brunson can pick up the pace as things seem more balanced with IQ was running point the other night vs Boston. We looked unpredictable, seemed to play faster and showed grit/toughness while beating a very good team. Not suggesting IQ > Brunson but the Celtics always seemed a step behind. Maybe RJ should go to the 2nd unit for a bit to try to figure things out.

RJ issues are more magnified with the second unit as he struggles in part initiating as the no 1 option in such a set.
Does not happen many times in a game, its just seems like it when we focus on it.
With the 1st unit his game is to get to the rim and he draws fouls very well. sometimes he gets blocked and it looks bad. Add lower % from deep and its a bad look.
Is it detrimental to the winning? Vs Sac Randle and IQ were not at their best.
It would be nice if RJ could be top dog on nights when that happens.
My take is open minded. Its possible they are developing aspects of RJs game (im being redundant here) and its yet to click. He is 22. Seems like he been here forever so he does not get a pass from many. I get it. Don’t agree with it.

Back on point, I would not trade him straight up for Lavine if that was even possible. While RJ might not be the star we hoped, his contract is not god awful. I think he can tighten up some things and be a good player with lessor than star acceptance. But at 22 that time has not come. Perhaps Lavine is the better player but its the probabilty his best days behind him, and that contract might hamper our upside. This FO has stayed away from bad contracts.

My Faith is stronger with the FO than blogs. Im not saying they get everything right, no team does.