NBA Draft Recap
Knicks get their man
Good Morning,
Thanks to everyone who came out to our draft party! We don’t have a final number, but I am sure we raised a lot of money for charity. That is why we do this. Thank you all so much!
RJ Barrett is a Knick!
The Knicks selected RJ Barrett with the 3rd pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
RJ Barrett: “I want to be the guy to help turn around the franchise. I want to be the guy to help us get back to that championship pedigree.” [MSG Networks]
Barrett living the dream set by his late granfather. “That was one of the reasons I was crying. We used to watch the Knicks growing up and he would always tell me I was going to be a Knick.” [Watch]
Barrett won Knicks over during workout. There were mixed views on Barrett within the organization, but Perry held firm, according to Marc Berman. Berman adds, “Before Barrett’s visit, an NBA source said Knicks were hoping Morant would fall to No. 3.” RJ then “came in and won our building over,” according to Scott Perry.
Knicks think they got a superstar. Brian Windhorst describes the Knicks excitement for Barrett, “They are thrilled with this pick. All this chaos that rained throughout the top ten…the phones were quiet [in New York] all day…they rejected all offers over the past couple of weeks…they think RJ Barrett is going to be a star player.”
Scott Perry on Barrett’s shooting development: “That’s something that he knows and recognizes," Perry said. "But he has the form and the mechanics that we felt very confident with a lot of work and repetition with our development, our coaching staff, that it’s something that’s very attainable for him.” [Chris Iseman]
Kevin Knox FaceTimed with Barrett after the draft. Knox was heard saying, “It’s going to be a great year for you man. I’m ready to get into the gym.” Barrett responded, “Me too!” [Watch]
Knicks have Canadian history: Ernie Vandeweghe was the first Canadian-born player on the Knicks (or to play a while in the NBA for any team), and ironically, he was also drafted 3rd overall in 1949. Of course, his son, Kiki, who was born in Germany, would later play in New York as well.
Watch Steve Nash react to his godson being drafted.
Meet RJ Barrett’s father
100th Episode of Knicks Film School Podcast
For the 100th episode of the pod, Jon takes everyone with him through his experience on draft day. A few hours before the first pick, he's joined by Spencer Pearlman to have a final discussion about RJ Barrett (as well as Ja Morant and Darius Garland), then we head to the bar for some pre-gaming and live reaction to the pick (25:25), and finally we finish the night with Knicks Film School himself, JB, who joins to talk about what RJ Barrett means to this team and fan base (29:15).
LISTEN on iTunes / SoundCloud / Stitcher
Ignas Brazdeikis
Knicks traded their 55th pick (Kyle Guy) and cash for the 47th pick to select Iggy Brazdeikis from Michigan.
A Maple Draft Party: Brazdeikis became one of six Canadians (RJ Barrett, of course, another) to be selected in the draft, a new record.
Buddies: Barrett and Brazdeikis were the leading scorers while playing together for Canada in 2016 during the U17 World Cup team.
LEARN MORE: Where did Ignas Brazdeikis come from? by Brendan Quinn
Kris Wilkes
Knicks signed Kris Wilkes to a two-way contract, according to Tim Bontemps.
Roster Analysis: The Knicks currently have Kadeem Allen signed through next season on a two-way contract, so Wilkes fills the remaining two-way spot. Remember, teams are allowed to carry two, two-way players at a time. A two-way player is allowed up to 45 days of NBA service, with the rest of their time spent in the G-League. By signing Wilkes to a two-way contract it prevents other teams from signing him to an NBA contract.
Wilkes is a 6-8 guard/wing who was a five-star recruit from Indianapolis, before enrolling at UCLA where he finished his sophomore season as the Bruins leading scoring (17.4) and was named second-team All-PAC-12.
As you would expect from a player signed to a two-way contract, Wilkes has areas of his game he needs to improve, but I found this analysis interesting from a UCLA Bruin blogger who watched him closely:
For my part, I thought last year depended on Kris Wilkes stepping up and being the leader. I thought it would happen and UCLA would be an NCAA team. Wilkes did not. Again, I would argue Hands stepped up and became a Pac-12 level point. Wilkes became the master of scoring in garbage time. That is not totally fair. He did make a dramatic three-pointer on one gimpy leg to beat Notre Dame.
I have to admit, Wilkes frustrated me. He is gifted, but lazy on defense. He has a good stroke, but shot 43% overall, 33% from three, and 67% from the line with his bizarre ultra-fast free throw stroke. I guess I am also irritated as he is the most likely to be drafted and I can’t get over the feeling he both underachieved and, more importantly from a UCLA fan perspective, did not give his all. Last year’s second round UCLA pick was Thomas Welsh, who no one doubted his work effort or devotion to UCLA.
Amir Hinton
Knicks signed Amir Hinton as an undrafted free agent, per Shams Charania.
Roster Analysis: Hinton’s contract contains an Exhibit 10 clause, per Mike Vorkunov, which provides an avenue for the Knicks to convert him to a two-way contract if they like what they see from him this summer. I wonder if the Knicks are looking to convert Kadeem Allen to a standard NBA contract, which would open up a two-way spot for Hinton. If the Knicks decide not to convert Hinton to a two-way contract and still don’t want him on their NBA roster, they can waive him and he can earn up to $50,000 from his Exhibit 10 clause if he plays in Westchester for at least 60 days.
Hinton played college basketball at Shaw University. He was born in Philly and started playing college ball at Lock Haven before transferring to Shaw.
Hinton averaged 29.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.3 steals, on way to winning Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Player of the Year.
LEARN MORE: Amir Hinton is hoping his NBA dream comes one step closer on draft day [and it did] by Anthony Gilbert
Watch it again
Other News
Frank is safe, for now. Ian Begley reported yesterday that during a talk with one team about a potential Frank Ntilikina trade, the Knicks asked for a second round pick. Of course, Frank wasn’t traded last night, so any potential deal centered around a second round pick would be for a 2020 pick, at the earliest.
Kawhi Watch: Adrian Wojnarowski says the Clippers and Raptors are certainly at the “front of the line” for Kawhi Leonard, but he says Kawhi might take meetings with the Knicks, 76ers, and possibly even the Nets. [Watch]
Durant without Kyrie? Adrian Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s Draft Show, “One thing I'm told is [Durant] is really focused on making his decision independently of anyone else and that includes Kyrie Irving.” Woj added that the Warriors, Nets, Knicks, and Clippers are all “significant considerations” for Durant.
Macri’s Thoughts
Well that was fun.
It had been a while since Knicks fans could universally enjoy an evening together. Not since He Who Shall Not Be Named was looking like an MVP candidate for that glorious three week stretch could all of us not only a) enjoy what we were watching and b) agree on what we were enjoying.
For every good game featuring some imperfect player or another, there were arguments that followed over whether said player was actually good, fake good, good-so-why-the-hell-doesn't-he-do-this-more-often, not good, or terrible but lucky enough to ruin the tank for one night. It's been forever since we could all just kick back, take a sip of our favorite beverage, and for one solitary moment, agree in unison that it was a good time to be a Knicks fan.
Last night provided just such an opportunity.
If you're waiting for the portion of the newsletter where I cite some stat or make an anecdotal case as to why Barrett is a no-brainer shoe-in for multiple All-NBA teams, I'm sorry to disappoint you because it ain't happening.
First, because every stat that could possibly be cited about RJ has already been hammered into the ground, from his being the only D1 player in history with 850 points, 250 rebounds and 150 assists to putting up 26, 8 and 5 on about 50% shooting while Zion was out (h/t Tommy Beer).
Second, and more importantly, despite those numbers, I can't sit here and make that argument. As I detailed in this space two days ago, players even more ballyhooed than Barrett have come into the NBA and failed for one reason or another. It happens.
Calling anyone - even Zion - a sure thing on draft night is fun but futile. RJ still needs to clean up certain areas of his game that will determine how great an impact he'll have on winning games as opposed to simply filling up a box score (the first of which is figuring out how to use his size and smarts to reach his defensive ceiling, as opposed to the lackadaisical off-ball D and dying on screens we saw all too often at Duke).
Everyone seems pumped about the future of his jumper, even more so after he's been working with Drew Hanlen of late, but still: we need to see it.
And then there’s the greatest risk of all...
The worst thing an NBA team can have is an inefficient volume shooter who thinks he's better than he is, and Barrett's doubters cast that scenario as his floor. As Spencer Pearlman noted to me yesterday on the pod, if guys were drafted last night based on how much they want to win, RJ would go first. That's fantastic, and frankly, a mentality desperately needed by the Knicks at this pivotal point in their history. It's also not a guarantee. No one in NBA history aside from MJ wanted to win as much as Kobe, and over the last two years of his career, there was perhaps no player more detrimental to his team's success than Bryant.
So yes, there is a downside. And yet, I am of the full belief that 10 or 15 years from now, we'll all be looking back on tonight as the moment the franchise truly turned things around.
Part of it is the aforementioned mentality, something that every locker room has to have. There's also the not-insignificant matter of RJ actually wanting to be a Knick. It's one thing to say you want the pressure of playing in MSG; it's quite another to have a resume to back up the fact that playing under immense pressure is all you've ever desired.
Mostly though, despite my questions about his ceiling, I'm a believer in RJ Barrett for this reason: he will be a drawing card, and a major one at that.
Zach Kram of the Ringer pointed out earlier this season that what the Knicks were attempting to do this summer - build a super team from scratch - was unprecedented. Every super team in modern NBA history had one home grown guy that served as Patient Zero, whether it was Steph in Golden State, Dwyane Wade in Miami, or Paul Pierce in Boston.
This article no doubt annoyed fans at the time, but that doesn't mean it wasn't true. History says you need a guy to be there first, and then the other guy (or guys) will come to join. You could argue that in each of the above examples, "original guy" was never as good as "second guy," but it didn't matter. They were good enough.
If ever there was a player who fit the profile of someone that an NBA star (or stars) would want to come play with, it's Barrett. As I pointed out earlier this week, the idea that every team needs a player who can jus' get'cha a bucket when'ya need one is at once both ridiculous and true. It's ridiculous because having that player, by itself, guarantees you precisely nothing (see: the 2014-15 Knicks, featuring Melo's last truly good season, which resulted in all of 17 wins). But you also do need this guy to win.
You know who recognizes - and more importantly, respects - players who have that quality? Other players. And RJ Barrett is most certainly a bucket-getter.
By itself, that's not a reason to draft someone, but when you add it to the rest of the package, it's more than enough to overlook some of the advanced metrics that question how effective Barrett will be at the net level. No one is saying he has to be perfect. But for the New York Knicks in 2019, perfect may be the enemy of the good, and this franchise has to be good - or at least sniff the outskirts of good - sooner rather than later.
A new era is upon us. Welcome to New York, RJ.
Yes, indeed: you are a Knick.
Thanks for reading, talk to you on Monday!