Official RJ Barrett Thread

[Airmiess]

This is going to be a very interesting era, 3 young prospects who all secretly want to be the guy.

[NinjaBro]

Everyone can improve, but the issue is there is a large body of work with RJ. He isn't efficient, not a good playmaker, pretty poor on D, and has really been the same player since he entered the NBA.

Can he turn it around? Maybe, but 4 games isn't enough to overshadow a career of 300.

He's 23 years old and isn't a finished product. Do you remember when Pascal was 23? Couldn't hit the side of a barn.

"If you want to lose brain cells go read Realgm" - Pensare Basketball

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

It's easier to put the blame on the Knicks and their crappy development.

[brownbobcat]

Everyone can improve, but the issue is there is a large body of work with RJ. He isn't efficient, not a good playmaker, pretty poor on D, and has really been the same player since he entered the NBA.

Can he turn it around? Maybe, but 4 games isn't enough to overshadow a career of 300.

No player is locked into their large body of work between the ages of 19-23. In some order: Larry Hughes, RJ, DeRozan, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace.

Player A
Yr 1: 55.4 TS%, 0.7 APG, -2.8 BPM
Yr 2: 53.0 TS%, 1.8 APG, -2.5 BPM
Yr 3: 50.3 TS%, 2.0 APG, -2.7 BPM
Yr 4: 52.3 TS%, 2.5 APG, -1.4 BPM
Yr 5: 53.2 TS%, 4.0 APG, -1.7 BPM

Player B
Yr 1: 47.9 TS%, 2.6 APG, -4.3 BPM
Yr 2: 53.5 TS%, 3.0 APG, -1.2 BPM
Yr 3: 51.1 TS%, 3.0 APG, -1.6 BPM
Yr 4: 53.1 TS%, 2.8 APG, -3.1 BPM
Yr 5: 55.3 TS%, 2.5 APG, -1.9 BPM

Player C
Yr 1: 51.7 TS%, 2.1 APG, -2.4 BPM
Yr 2: 54.3 TS%, 2.0 APG, -1.3 BPM
Yr 3: 53.4 TS%, 2.3 APG, -1.7 BPM
Yr 4: 50.5 TS%, 2.0 APG, -2.4 BPM
Yr 5: 49.3 TS%, 2.5 APG, -3.0 BPM

Player D
Yr 1: 47.8 TS%, 2.3 APG, -0.7 BPM
Yr 2: 47.2 TS%, 2.6 APG, -1.4 BPM
Yr 3: 49.1 TS%, 4.4 APG, -1.3 BPM
Yr 4: 55.6 TS%, 3.5 APG, 0.9 BPM
Yr 5: 53.7 TS%, 6.5 APG, 1.0 BPM

Player E
Yr 1: 47.4 TS%, 1.5 APG, 1.5 BPM
Yr 2: 46.7 TS%, 2.5 APG, -0.9 BPM
Yr 3: 44.9 TS%, 4.5 APG, -1.4 BPM
Yr 4: 48.4 TS%, 4.3 APG, 0.3 BPM
Yr 5: 52.1 TS%, 3.1 APG, 0.2 BPM

[Tripod]

give it a rest already. Yhe guy is 23 years old hanst dven reached his prime yet, no idea wtf your problem is with the agenda. He clearly has skills and has flashes of why he was a top 3 pick. It's weird to have a guy that talented and young and fot some reason actively want to prove why he sucks and won't get any better. The guy already haa more offensive polish than Barnes, and yet people want to keep running more iso plays for Barnes to force up awkward shots. Weird ****.

Your obsession with complaining about Barnes is very noticeable. What did he do to hurt your feelings so much?

Reality is we should be trying to develop both of theses guy....and IQ because none are finished products. That often means doing things that might be inefficient. But you have an irrational attitude toward Barnes and it's very noticeable.

You guys are so ignorant it’s funny. I’ve been Barnes biggest supporters since he’s got here. Give it a rest already. Just because I’m not delusional about him doesn’t make me a hater. Like I said most of you guys don’t even understand how to evaluate skillsets. I’ve been debating with people forever on potential, youth, the direction of the team, and what makes players better than others and why certain players will/can be better than other players. If you’re mad about anything I’ve said about Barnes then trust me I have a better understanding of Barnes game than you, so don’t even bother. I’ll see you guys in a few years again when you’re complaining about the same **** I already pointed out, but as usual all of you will be 5 years too late.

I have no beef with anyone on here.

I could care less how great you are.

It still doesn't change that you are coming across as a pompous ass that has an axe to grind when it comes to Barnes.

Oh, and fwiw, I personally don't think Barnes will ever be a #1 option. I just don't spend post after post complaining about him like you do.

[Tripod]

Everyone can improve, but the issue is there is a large body of work with RJ. He isn't efficient, not a good playmaker, pretty poor on D, and has really been the same player since he entered the NBA.

Can he turn it around? Maybe, but 4 games isn't enough to overshadow a career of 300.

He's 23 years old and isn't a finished product. Do you remember when Pascal was 23? Couldn't hit the side of a barn.

"If you want to lose brain cells go read Realgm" - Pensare Basketball

Wasn't that in Oct and Nov 2023?

[NinjaBro]

Everyone can improve, but the issue is there is a large body of work with RJ. He isn't efficient, not a good playmaker, pretty poor on D, and has really been the same player since he entered the NBA.

Can he turn it around? Maybe, but 4 games isn't enough to overshadow a career of 300.

No player is locked into their large body of work between the ages of 19-23. In some order: Larry Hughes, RJ, DeRozan, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace.

Player A
Yr 1: 55.4 TS%, 0.7 APG, -2.8 BPM
Yr 2: 53.0 TS%, 1.8 APG, -2.5 BPM
Yr 3: 50.3 TS%, 2.0 APG, -2.7 BPM
Yr 4: 52.3 TS%, 2.5 APG, -1.4 BPM
Yr 5: 53.2 TS%, 4.0 APG, -1.7 BPM

Player B
Yr 1: 47.9 TS%, 2.6 APG, -4.3 BPM
Yr 2: 53.5 TS%, 3.0 APG, -1.2 BPM
Yr 3: 51.1 TS%, 3.0 APG, -1.6 BPM
Yr 4: 53.1 TS%, 2.8 APG, -3.1 BPM
Yr 5: 55.3 TS%, 2.5 APG, -1.9 BPM

Player C
Yr 1: 51.7 TS%, 2.1 APG, -2.4 BPM
Yr 2: 54.3 TS%, 2.0 APG, -1.3 BPM
Yr 3: 53.4 TS%, 2.3 APG, -1.7 BPM
Yr 4: 50.5 TS%, 2.0 APG, -2.4 BPM
Yr 5: 49.3 TS%, 2.5 APG, -3.0 BPM

Player D
Yr 1: 47.8 TS%, 2.3 APG, -0.7 BPM
Yr 2: 47.2 TS%, 2.6 APG, -1.4 BPM
Yr 3: 49.1 TS%, 4.4 APG, -1.3 BPM
Yr 4: 55.6 TS%, 3.5 APG, 0.9 BPM
Yr 5: 53.7 TS%, 6.5 APG, 1.0 BPM

Player E
Yr 1: 47.4 TS%, 1.5 APG, 1.5 BPM
Yr 2: 46.7 TS%, 2.5 APG, -0.9 BPM
Yr 3: 44.9 TS%, 4.5 APG, -1.4 BPM
Yr 4: 48.4 TS%, 4.3 APG, 0.3 BPM
Yr 5: 52.1 TS%, 3.1 APG, 0.2 BPM

You don't need to put so much effort to dig out stats and research when replying to Steelo Green. Just a low effort 1 or 2 sentences will suffice.

"If you want to lose brain cells go read Realgm" - Pensare Basketball

[Boselecta]

I'm curious what was the general opinion towards Demar in his 4th-5th seasons with us? I don't recall it being so negative.

If we had a guy like Demar on the team now there's no way this board would be so patient they would have pushed to trade him for any random prospect.

[brownbobcat]

You don't need to put so much effort to dig out stats and research when replying to Steelo Green. Just a low effort 1 or 2 sentences will suffice.

"If you want to lose brain cells go read Realgm" - Pensare Basketball

Oh, I know, but it was moreso to find examples of late bloomers to see what we might expect and not to prove a point. Look, RJ isn't going to turn into Kobe overnight just because of the trade - there are legitimate reasons why he's been mediocre thus far. The athletic limitations are real, however, he does have redeeming qualities as well - foremost among them a rep as a hard worker.

Shooting, handles and footwork can all be improved with reps. We've seen that with multiple players.

[TheGeneral99]

I'm curious what was the general opinion towards Demar in his 4th-5th seasons with us? I don't recall it being so negative.

If we had a guy like Demar on the team now there's no way this board would be so patient they would have pushed to trade him for any random prospect.

Our expectations are way higher compared to the early 2010s, I think that's the difference.

We've tasted what real success is on a perennial 50+ win team whereas back then we would have been happy just to make the playoffs.

[Airmiess]

I'm curious what was the general opinion towards Demar in his 4th-5th seasons with us? I don't recall it being so negative.

If we had a guy like Demar on the team now there's no way this board would be so patient they would have pushed to trade him for any random prospect.

They did do that.. they wanted to trade him for players like Aaron Afflalo.
They said he was a poor mans Corey Magette.

[brownbobcat]

I'm curious what was the general opinion towards Demar in his 4th-5th seasons with us? I don't recall it being so negative.

If we had a guy like Demar on the team now there's no way this board would be so patient they would have pushed to trade him for any random prospect.

There was definite negativity heading into his 5th season back then. The team had been terrible for many years up to that point and DeRozan couldn't live up to the ghost of Vince. He had signed an extension that was well under the max and there was a lot of grumbling that his only elite skill was spotting up for mid-range jumpers. Wasn't a great ball-handler, couldn't create much for himself - a few people were legitimately wishing they'd drafted Gerald Henderson instead.

[TRik]

I don’t mind developing him as a third/fourth option type. Biggest things I want to see improvement wise though, foot speed and using his drives to create for others more.

[Tripod]

We hired a developmental coaching squad. It's on them to help tweak guys to get the best out of them.

If they can get him to just better recognize when to drive into traffic vs drive into 3/4 buys, it's a positive step.

As stated, in NY tge touches went to 2 guys first so when you got a chance in transition, you can see why he is thinking he has to try and get his. Ultimately we want to create a team where everyone gets theirs on any given night depending on matchups and who gets hot.

Like last night, I loved how we hunted Curry on offense and it was multiple guys doing it. It was beautiful to watch. Glad RJ was able to have that kind of night so he doesn't feel the need to press "to impress". Both he and IQ have that game under their belt.

Now, play team bball and see how this road trip ends up.

[YogurtProducer]

We hired a developmental coaching squad. It's on them to help tweak guys to get the best out of them.

If they can get him to just better recognize when to drive into traffic vs drive into 3/4 buys, it's a positive step.

As stated, in NY tge touches went to 2 guys first so when you got a chance in transition, you can see why he is thinking he has to try and get his. Ultimately we want to create a team where everyone gets theirs on any given night depending on matchups and who gets hot.

Like last night, I loved how we hunted Curry on offense and it was multiple guys doing it. It was beautiful to watch. Glad RJ was able to have that kind of night so he doesn't feel the need to press "to impress". Both he and IQ have that game under their belt.

Now, play team bball and see how this road trip ends up.

I would love to see us play some lineups with RJ being the defacto "PG". How many teams can guard him at 1 the 1?

[Vampirate]

Let's be honest, we wish there was more Barnes in RJ and more RJ in Barnes from a mental standpoint lol.

[Scase]

Yeah it's getting ridiculous at this point. Not a single mention of Barnes and yet pulls him in for zero reason. RJ is inconsistent, suggesting that 4 and a half years of data should be ignored because he's 23 is stupid. Can he get better, yeah probably, but it doesn't change a damn thing as far as history is concerned. He's played 3 games and we're out here acting like he was a deserved 3rd pick, Rj with 4.5 years of a defined role vs 2.5 years of being pushed and pulled in every direction. No **** RJ has a more polished offensive game, that's pretty much his game. Scottie has a significantly more polished passing game and 3 pointer, wtf does this have to do with anything.

RJ has played like he has played, warts and all. However, I'm not sure you could really say he had a defined role - at least not one that's really well-suited to his game. Part of that is obviously his own doing since he isn't athletic/skilled enough to be a #1 wing scorer, but I think a lot of development can still happen between 23-28 if he puts in the work.

Oh absolutely, I don't think RJ is worthless. I just think people looking at this sample size and saying "See I told you!" is stupid. 300 games > 4 games.

As far as a defined role, I meant more so that his job is to score, and do so from the SF position, and that's pretty much what he's been his entire career with NYC. Comparing Scottie to him, who has played essentially every single position on the court over the last 2 years, been the focus, not been the focus, been the facilitator, been a throw him in the corner and do nothing guy, etc, is absurd.

Scottie is a player who has excelled in spite of how he's been used so randomly.

If this is what RJ brings to the raps, you sure as hell wont here me complaining, but I'm not holding my breath either.

[djsunyc]

rj will have his ups and downs. he'll have good and bad streaks.

the hope is that those games he has downs, we lower his usage. also, i think unlike playing in the iso-heavy knicks offense, playing in darko's .5 offense will help reduce the frustrating times.

[raincityraptors]

Watching Jak and RJ play off of each other was by far the most entertaining part of the Warriors game to me. They have great chemistry. I didn't expect either of them to keep so much of my attention but they are a great combination.

[DreamTeam09]

OG - 7yrs 36pts career high
RJ - 4 games, 37pts Raptors szn high