New York Knicks fans are expecting a lot from RJ Barrett next season. He already showed what he can do in his five games in Summer League, putting up an average of 15.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He's not the quick fix that the Knicks wanted, but he definitely showed a ton of potential.
For now, however, Barrett will have to continue working on his game. As basketball analyst Nick Hauselman pointed out in an interview with Marc Berman of the New York Post, Barrett could become a “solid contributor” for the Knicks, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to show it in his rookie year.
That being said, Hauselman predicts an average rookie season for the third overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft.
“I think he can be a solid contributor for a long time. I don’t know if we’ll see it this year. He’s not the savior that will add 10 wins.’’
One of the major weaknesses in Barrett's game during his college days was his 3-point shooting, and that doesn't seem to have improved a lot in Summer League, where he shot an abysmal 24 percent. Hauselman, however, believes that the former Duke University standout will do just fine in that department.
Hauselman also emphasized Barrett's struggles on the defensive end.
“Nothing stood out as far being a great stopper on the ball,’’ Hauselman added. “Duke has gone to a lot of 2-3 zone. That’s going to be an issue — lack of experience on the ball, man to man, especially at that position. He’ll be playing guys trying to kill him or try to.”
Barrett will have roughly two and a half months to improve his game, which won't be enough time. These flaws will be present during the regular season, but if the Knicks will be patient on him, great things could happen for their franchise in the future.
RJ Barrett may not be the savior they are looking for now, but if they give him the chance and time to develop, he could very well be in the future.
Follow Us
Subscribe