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The Athletic conducted a poll, asking 16 officials in NBA front offices what they would deem a fair number for Barrett in an extension this summer or fall. Responses ranged from $15 million to $30 million a year. No one advocated for the Knicks to give him the max. Exactly half of the responses were a nice, clean four years, $100 million, making it by far the most common proposal from the polled executives.

One high-ranking exec, who said that $25 million a year was reasonable, compared Barrett’s extension negotiations to John Collins’ 2021 free agency. Collins wanted the max but ended up re-signing with the Hawks on a five-year, $125 million contract. The one difference? NBA rules state players can’t receive more than four years in a rookie-scale extension, the type Barrett would get, unless it’s a max. Thus, Barrett receives only four here.

Four seasons of $25 million salaries would be only $7 million a year less than Barrett’s starting salary on a max, but it sure feels far off when you add it all up. Factor in maximum year-to-year raises and the valuable fifth year, and four-for-100 is about $85 million fewer guaranteed.

One executive suggested $28 million a year for Barrett. Another said he would give the 21-year-old $30 million a year, a hair under the max, because the player has to compromise if he wants the security of an extension. That was the highest annual salary anyone in the poll submitted, though this exec made it clear he thought Barrett had max-player capabilities.

There were several comments from those polled about having no problem paying him the max in restricted free agency if he made significant improvements in 2022-23, which most people consider possible. Barrett’s admirable work ethic is notorious at this point. Many of the people polled for this story referenced it in conversations with The Athletic.