As the Knicks Brass debated whether to stay at No. 3 in the 2019 draft and take on RJ Barrett or trade down to take on another asset, Knicks GM Scott Perry stuck to his instinct.
Legitimate offers were out, including a man from Atlanta who wanted to swap his nose 8 and 10 picks to move up to No. 3 for Barrett with the Knights.
Some members of the basketball operations staff thought this could be the route – unaffiliated about Barrett’s athleticism, 3-point shooting and inability to use his weak right hand in the basket.
“A shooting guard who can’t shoot,” a skeptic from another organization thought before that draft.
“Ann Scott said – we have to pick her, we have to pick her,” an NBA source told The Post that told The Post.
“Snow” is Barrett, who is just 20 years old and has a jump from a disappointing rookie season to debut all-star with only one-and-a-half seasons under his belt – his 3-point shooting (32 percent) at 39. Per cent) and free-throw shooting (61.4 per cent to 74.2 per cent) have improved significantly.
Barrett is also clever for his skillful and clever entourage. “Better rim reads,” said Tom Thibodo. And his cagey defense is a plus rather than a loan.
Even after an incompetent rogue season at the age of 19, Barrett was expected to blossom like a spring tulip. When Nux met with Barrett several times during the pre-pandemic, pre-draft process, he felt somewhat larger than his lack of elite athletics.
Another NGA stated, “Nix saw his introspection, his mental toughness, strong belief in himself and his work ethic.” He also added, “He also showed the ability to bounce back from short plays, bad plays with perseverance or bad games. Those were all important qualities that good NBA players have demonstrated over time.”
Perry and former Knicks president Steve Mills also saw Barrett’s pedigree as a high school and college superstar. “They were betting on their campaign to succeed,” the NBA executive said. “Failure did not seem to be an option for him. And he was going to take up the challenge of playing in New York. They just needed time to learn, grow and develop at this level. “
Last week, Derrick Rose said that Barrett is “a perfectionist”, and that his rogues’ weather could be hampered when he had no leaders.
Barrett experienced two straight games on this 5–1 homestand, where he experienced the first terrible bout to come back with a half-killer.
In the previous season and earlier campaigns when he missed 21 straight 3-pointers in late December / early January, Barrett did not easily reverse his misfortune.
“Whenever I get a chance at Rosé, I try to get it, get out of my head, go out of my way and tell him, ‘Don’t be disappointed,” Rose said. He said, “He misses shots because he is a perfectionist so whenever I see him down, I try to talk to him more and more. And in the second half, he became completely aggressive.”
Is he really a perfectionist?
“Yes, yes I am that,” Barrett said sheepishly, scratching his face. “I will say that I hate when everything is not right.” I hate If I do everything right and I miss the shot or I do everything right I flip the ball, I hate when things don’t go right. “
Nevertheless, Barrett’s ability to play poorly or shake the half is part of his budding greatness. Even during his disputed rogue year, scouts will say that the child is not lacking in the least bit of confidence.
When the Knicks drafted Barrett, he also credited being a strong father in Rowan Barrett, who had guided his son through his basketball career. Rowan woven his own accomplished career as a solid St. John swingman, playing overseas and for Team Canada. Rowan is now GM of Team Canada.
“My dad set me this up at a young age,” Barrett said about not getting down during a game. “It’s a big help because it’s a long game.”
Left both All-Rocky teams, Barrett crowded those voters. Two league scouts had a nickname for the Knicks to take the high lottery: “Box Score Barrett.”
In other words, Barrett would stack up points that did not affect the outcome of the game but looked impressive in box scores.
In true sense, Barrett did not make enough seats when it was talked about last season, but still averaged 14.5 points per game over a 21–45 club. His scoring average is just three points above the 17.6 mark, but he continues to make the team a meaningful base in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Former Nucks coach David Fizdale was so impressed with Barrett’s maturity at the age of 19 that he played him a 35-minute game from Presence.
“I don’t think it was arrogance,” said an NBA official close to the Knights, about Barrett’s such a rough year. “RJ was the third youngest player in the draft, probably because of some immaturity and not knowing the scenario. At Duke, he was Zion [Williamson] And coach’s [Mike Krzyzewski.] He came in and was delivered very quickly. Now he has learned from his previous lessons. “
Fizdale said he saw Barrett as a rogue ready to handle a load and wanted to speed up his development when he could play the veteran.
“It’s really a credit to RJ, Thebes, his staff,” Fizdale told The Post of Barrett’s counterattack. “RJ Narakuva was never in doubt as a supporter. He has been acquiring all the ingredients to become a great winner over the years. “
As many players land at the Knicks Tarrytown practice facility for shooting knights, Barrett does not miss an evening. There may be a factor in this season due to the epidemic not being publicized.
After wearing a flamboyant pink suit on Draft Night, Barrett flew to Hollywood the next day for ESPY instead of meeting his new coaches.
According to a source, Thirodo was not yet sold on the idea that Barrett knew the work that was needed to become great when he was hired in late July. But Thibodo had a talk with Krazyज़ski, which made him comfortable.
“I worked with Coach Kay with Team USA,” Thibodo said. He said, “When I played there, I saw a lot of his game. While talking to Coach Kay, I knew what kind of specialties he had. I loved his size, I felt he entered the street very well. I knew she was young. It takes some time for most people to arrive. But the way he works is as a person, I knew he would improve. We will keep watching it throughout his career. Very tolerable. Great teammates. He has had a wonderful season and will continue to do well. “
In the Nucks’ win over the Bulls on Wednesday, Thibodo outscored Barrett for consecutive defensive rookies. But the scouts saw progress by looking at Barrett.
An NBA scout who watched the Suns game on Monday told of Barrett’s defensive reading.
On a late-game loose ball, instead of trying to scramble after it, Barrett rightfully stayed with his man Mikael Bridges, who swam to the left corner. While it is a Thibodo effect, Barrett still executes it at a summer pace.
“He’s really improved in every aspect of his game,” Thibodo said. “He is one of those people who is young, and I think in every game he can learn something and then he comes the next day and is a hardworking worker.”
Indeed, from their draft-night pink suits to yellow hard hats.
Another NBA source familiar with the draft process said, “He had all the skills and physical tools – on the low end – a good player.” “Research showed that he was not allowing himself to fail. With his mental makeup, this will be his destination, but more likely he gets a chance to become an All-Star. “
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