NBA draft prospect RJ Barrett is excited about the possibility of playing with the New York Knicks, even if they don’t sign max free agents.
The New York Knicks have the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA draft Thursday night. With Zion Williamson slated to go No. 1 overall and Ja Morant slated to go No. 2, that leaves the Knicks with RJ Barrett.
In one season at Duke, Barrett averaged 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists through 38 games on 45% shooting. It’s safe to say the Knicks will be getting an all-around talented wing in Barrett on Thursday night.
The Knicks also have the opportunity to sign two max free agents this summer. NBA free agency officially begins on June 30. The market will include big names such as Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Jimmy Butler. It would be great to see Barrett team up with any of these guys. However, the eventual rookie is excited to be a Knick even if they don’t sign anyone.
“It doesn’t even matter to me, I just want to play,” Barrett said to Adam Zagoria of Forbes. “So whatever happens, happens. And if I play with a great player like KD or just play with the guys on the team right now, I don’t even care.”
Durant will most definitely miss all of the 2019-2020 season due to a ruptured Achilles he sustained during the NBA Finals. Irving, on the other hand, has been heavily linked to the Brooklyn Nets. As a result, the Knicks’ chances of getting some big names for next season are still up in the air.
However, that doesn’t stop the excitement in Barrett and his will to put the work in.
“If the Knicks pick me,” he said, “I’m just going to work my butt off to try to get us back on the winning track.”
With a 17-65 record and a last-place finish in the league last season, the Knickerbockers desperately need to get back to winning.
