Is RJ Barrett a beast?

[seren]

RJ is great as your third best player if the first two are all-stars.

[DaGawd]

Any time you got a guy on an 11 game stretch of over 20 a game on 17 FGA and 5.4 FTA...you know you're watching a surefire superstar in the making. Start the general board threads anointing his greatness and get ready to raise the championship banners. Sure his plus minus is negative but the bench will carry as always.

He was trolling

[DOT]

Y'all waiting for RJ to have a bad game so y'all can come in here and claim victory:

[Deeeez Knicks]

RJ is great as your third best player if the first two are all-stars.

I can see RJ as that kind of player and don't see that as a bad thing. He might not be a savior but can still be a good player that can be a part of our core.

You still hope for more but am ok if hes but a superstar

[TerrenceClarke]

Any time you got a guy on an 11 game stretch of over 20 a game on 17 FGA and 5.4 FTA...you know you're watching a surefire superstar in the making. Start the general board threads anointing his greatness and get ready to raise the championship banners. Sure his plus minus iut the bench will carry as always.

He was trolling

I was about to say.

Im usually not in this thread so dont know who is being sarcastic in here.

[robillionaire]

Y'all waiting for RJ to have a bad game so y'all can come in here and claim victory:

We only had to wait 1 game after the thread got bumped

Blame the thread bumper

Crazy 88s get another W

[prophet_of_rage]

I gave RJ the benefit of the doubt his first two seasons and really believed that he was evolving during his mini hot streak, but the more I watch him play the more I begin to realize that he is nothing more than a reincarnation of Steve Smith. He will have his couple of seasons in which he'll average 20.0 ppg, but will finish his overall NBA career with mediocre numbers.

I would love a Steve Smith

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[Nazrmohamed]

I gave RJ the benefit of the doubt his first two seasons and really believed that he was evolving during his mini hot streak, but the more I watch him play the more I begin to realize that he is nothing more than a reincarnation of Steve Smith. He will have his couple of seasons in which he'll average 20.0 ppg, but will finish his overall NBA career with mediocre numbers.

I would love a Steve Smith

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Agree with your assessment however its skewed for me cause I can't get past the difference in playstyle. The best I can think of as a career is someone like Xavier McDaniels. The best and worst he ever was in this league. Ya know. Long career, never was a bum but at his best probably alittle overrated

[DowNY]

RJ is great as your third best player if the first two are all-stars.

I can see RJ as that kind of player and don't see that as a bad thing. He might not be a savior but can still be a good player that can be a part of our core.

You still hope for more but am ok if hes but a superstar

This.
It’s not just about having a superstar. Need a team of mentally tough warriors and RJ seems like he’ll at least be a low end 2 or high end 3, which is needed. You don’t just turn your nose at that, especially a franchise deprived of good pieces for so many years.

[dakomish23]

Bumpity bump bump

Your wish is granted

[dakomish23]

Welp.. looks like he is. No votes def need to be exposed

Admins should release the names of the 203 "no" votes. We demand accountability!!!!

(this post was made by 79 gang)

Yes please do

[dakomish23]

If RJ were consistent he'd already be an All-Star at 21.

There will be ups and downs. We just have to learn to deal with it.

Only things I'm watching are his attitude/energy on the court, and whether his career is on an upwards trajectory or if it stalls. So far, RJ is showing progress overall (albeit not in spectacular fashion) and his effort has remained consistent, so I can't complain.

Will he ever be franchise player-good? Likely not, although who knows. But he doesn't need to become that in order to be an asset for this franchise. Whichever pick he was drafted with is irrelevant now - his next contract is a more interesting topic of conversation imo.

We always wanted to have good young players, but unless they're generational talents, following them generally requires patience.

I'll start freaking out the day RJ regresses or shows signs of complacency.

Ppl should have listened to this guy. This person had the foresight to know not make ridiculous long term takes this early in a kid’s career. Wonder where he went.

Can I get a meme with CB on a milk carton?

[HarthorneWingo]

RJ is great as your third best player if the first two are all-stars.

I can see RJ as that kind of player and don't see that as a bad thing. He might not be a savior but can still be a good player that can be a part of our core.

You still hope for more but am ok if he's but a superstar

I don't think you can put it any better than this. I thought what he did tonight was very impressive. He took it to another level. So maybe we won't see this kind of game on a regular basis right now but I agree with Mike Breen. RJ's only 21 though I think he is mature beyond his age. It's fascinating to see him plow through these, at times, very rough stretches. He definitely is mentally tough in that way. I don't see us trading him, nor should we.

Sorry DeGawd. You're on your own.

[dakomish23]

RJ is great as your third best player if the first two are all-stars.

I can see RJ as that kind of player and don't see that as a bad thing. He might not be a savior but can still be a good player that can be a part of our core.

You still hope for more but am ok if he's but a superstar

I don't think you can put it any better than this. I thought what he did tonight was very impressive. He took it to another level. So maybe we won't see this kind of game on a regular basis right now but I agree with Mike Breen. RJ's only 21 though I think he is mature beyond his age. It's fascinating to see him plow through these, at times, very rough stretches. He definitely is mentally tough in that way. I don't see us trading him, nor should we.

Sorry DeGawd. You're own your own.

Finally! Was waiting for you to come to the club

[spree2kawhi]

I can see RJ as that kind of player and don't see that as a bad thing. He might not be a savior but can still be a good player that can be a part of our core.

You still hope for more but am ok if he's but a superstar

I don't think you can put it any better than this. I thought what he did tonight was very impressive. He took it to another level. So maybe we won't see this kind of game on a regular basis right now but I agree with Mike Breen. RJ's only 21 though I think he is mature beyond his age. It's fascinating to see him plow through these, at times, very rough stretches. He definitely is mentally tough in that way. I don't see us trading him, nor should we.

Sorry DeGawd. You're own your own.

Finally! Was waiting for you to come to the club

However there is a very big problem with that view:

The all stars aren’t going to be there before RJ needs a massive extension. And that’s just not how you build a team. With that said, the only option is to tank and draft superstars around him. And we won’t. There’s only that one solution and the Knicks aren’t going there.

[HarthorneWingo]

I don't think you can put it any better than this. I thought what he did tonight was very impressive. He took it to another level. So maybe we won't see this kind of game on a regular basis right now but I agree with Mike Breen. RJ's only 21 though I think he is mature beyond his age. It's fascinating to see him plow through these, at times, very rough stretches. He definitely is mentally tough in that way. I don't see us trading him, nor should we.

Sorry DeGawd. You're own your own.

Finally! Was waiting for you to come to the club

However there is a very big problem with that view:

The all stars aren’t going to be there before RJ needs a massive extension. And that’s just not how you build a team. With that said, the only option is to tank and draft superstars around him. And we won’t. There’s only that one solution and the Knicks aren’t going there.

Isn't there a rule about going over the cap to sign your own player? I think so long as we sign the other free agents first then we can go over the cap to sign RJ. I'm no expert on the cap so maybe someone else here can provide better insight to this issue.

[spree2kawhi]

Finally! Was waiting for you to come to the club

However there is a very big problem with that view:

The all stars aren’t going to be there before RJ needs a massive extension. And that’s just not how you build a team. With that said, the only option is to tank and draft superstars around him. And we won’t. There’s only that one solution and the Knicks aren’t going there.

Isn't there a rule about going over the cap to sign your own player? I think so long as we sign the other free agents first then we can go over the cap to sign RJ. I'm no expert on the cap so maybe someone else here can provide better insight to this issue.

Yeah, that’s what I meant. I don’t see us in position to sign any meaningful free agent before his extension comes up.

[HarthorneWingo]

However there is a very big problem with that view:

The all stars aren’t going to be there before RJ needs a massive extension. And that’s just not how you build a team. With that said, the only option is to tank and draft superstars around him. And we won’t. There’s only that one solution and the Knicks aren’t going there.

Isn't there a rule about going over the cap to sign your own player? I think so long as we sign the other free agents first then we can go over the cap to sign RJ. I'm no expert on the cap so maybe someone else here can provide better insight to this issue.

Yeah, that’s what I meant. I don’t see us in position to sign any meaningful free agent before his extension comes up.

Fck the aging "superstar" free agents. Acquire as many draft picks as possible and go after certain RFA that the drafting teams can't sign due to their own cap problems.

Maybe we can find another John Starks or Anthony Mason somewhere.

[HopelessKnick]

I personally stopped worrying about RJ at some point during last season when he was starting to knock down all those catch and shoot 3s. RJ may not be elite , like 10/10 in anything on the court, but he is like 8/10 in so many areas that he is just gonna be good down the line---I have no worries about it. To me the only question left is, can he elevate his game enough to be a great second option on a good contending team or is he gonna be that great third option that is solid/good at times as a second option. He has superb work ethic and is mentally tough and I feel like at some point he he will be more consistant with his shot and add different finishes to his drive. If it was up to me I'd definitely keep him for the next 4-5 years and see what he can develop into. With RJ I think we'll see in 2-3 years if he'll project as a multiple all-star or more like fringe all-star. I wouldn't trade him this year or next at all , almost no matter what the package is (must be a complete no-brainer other wise no).

Keep in mind RJ is not that "naturally" gifted guy like Lebron and other super, fluid athletes but he has some good talent and is a great worker so his improvement will be more gradual. You will see some steady improvement in his game, although the stats won't always show it. He is in his third year and looks already like at worst like a third option. Essentially he can shoot, drive, finish, draw fouls and play defense. He will continue working on that "in between type of game" and become better at floaters, finishing, hitting FTs etc. He may very well end up with 20points/6rebounds this seasons, especially if we trade Randle.

If the FO manages to get an uptempo PG that can make the Knicks run consistantly, you'll see a bump in RJs % as well.

[HopelessKnick]

RJ is great as your third best player if the first two are all-stars.

I think you may underestimate his work ethic and willingness to improve. The Knicks on offense are a dysfunctional mess and RJ is still getting 18/6 on acceptable %. Put RJ on a good team with a structure and organized offense that can play uptempo more and you'd see him easily get like 20points on 44%/37% type of numbers. I think those % will be where RJ will settle in at some point.

My point is that essentially RJ IS already at a level where he could be that third option on a good team and he is 21. Imagine him right now behind two all-stars.....he'd probably be getting 22/6/3 on good % right away so IMO being third best player is more like his floor, not his ceiling. I think if everything goes well for him he could develop into a solid second option or at least 2B type option behind a true superstar (top 10 player). Like if Mitchell is your best offensive player getting 25-30 points a night, RJ will do as a second option (if you have another solid scorer).

Take Khris Middleton who has been an all-star/fringe all-star and second option on a top 5 team in the last 5 seasons.....the Bucks do ok with that concept. Sometimes they even rely on him as a 1B option when Giannis is struggling. Middleton literally cracked the 20points in his 6th season at the age of 26. Sure, he is a better shooter than RJ but look at his development. RJ is literally 5 years away from that point. I can definitely see RJ on Middleton type of level.