Knicks, Barrett agree to 4-year extension
The New York Knicks and wing RJ Barrett have agreed on a contract extension.
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The four-year extension is worth up to $120 million, Barrett's agent told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday.
By signing an extension, New York including Barrett in a trade for Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell is much more difficult to execute due to the poison pill provision. The Knicks have been heavily linked with Mitchell during the offseason.
The Knicks set a Monday deadline for the Jazz to agree to a trade before committing to a contract for Barrett, Wojnarowski adds.
Barrett has been a steady presence in the Knicks' lineup since he was drafted third overall in 2019. The 22-year-old has appeared in 198 career games and has averaged 17.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.
He posted a career-high 20 points per game last season, though his efficiency faltered after a hot-shooting 2020-21 season, making just 40.8% of his field goals and 34.2% of his 3-pointers. Defensively, he averaged the lowest steal and block numbers of his career.
The Canadian will become the youngest Knicks player ever to receive a contract valued at over $100 million. He'll also be the first Knicks player to earn a multi-year rookie extension since Charlie Ward in 1999.