Now that Kevin Durant has rescinded his trade request, New York’s pursuit of Donovan Mitchell is the NBA’s remaining biggest unresolved storyline.
When the Knicks signed RJ Barrett to a near max rookie scale extension on Monday evening, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Utah Jazz had “greatly valued” the former No. 3 overall pick in trade talks. He added that an extension complicated the trade pursuit.
SNY’s Ian Begley shared a similar sentiment in his reporting. But many fans were not convinced by the sudden change of tune.
After trading All-Star big man Rudy Gobert to the Timberwolves, the Jazz are likely entering a rebuilding chapter of their franchise history. All signs indicate that they will tank for top draft prospect Victor Wembanyama.
Barrett, who averaged 20.0 points per game last season for the Knicks, is simply too good right now. He would help the Jazz win more games than they would like in their race to the bottom.
Trading for Barrett also meant they would have to offer him a lucrative contract extension like New York just did. Utah likely had no interest in committing to up to $120 million at this point in their rebuild. It would make more sense to target someone on the Knicks like Quentin Grimes, who is still much earlier in his rookie scale extension timeline.
Fans were skeptical to learn that the Jazz suddenly wanted Barrett, and the reporting below further indicates why:
Salt Lake Tribune's Andy Larsen
“R.J. Barrett, the third pick of the 2019 NBA draft, was considered more valuable to the Knicks than the Jazz … At least one voice in the Jazz’s front office prefers Herro as a return to Barrett, according to a source. Essentially, Tyler Herro’s likelihood of being a cheaper contract moving forward and his more advanced shooting stroke are reasons for optimism.”
From The Athletic's Tony Jones
“The Jazz do not wont to take back RJ Barrett in the deal because they don’t want to pay him. They wanna go young.”
From ESPN's Zach Lowe
“The Jazz desire to get him is unclear to me … He might not be the dealbreaker people think it is.”
From Marc Stein's newsletter
“While Barrett’s exclusion is likely fine with the Jazz, Utah (gulp) is said to want at least six of the eight picks.
From Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer
“League sources have indicated that Utah isn’t enamored by becoming the franchise that coughs up a sizable extension to Barrett.”
Reaction to ESPN's report that the Jazz wanted Barrett
I never thought RJ Barrett was a player the Jazz were interested in, just for the reason they were going to have to pay him after this season and my feel is they want to keep the powder dry instead of paying him.
— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) August 30, 2022
Imo it never made sense for Barrett to be in the deal. For either side. To me, this changes nothing. It was always going to be a picks-based package. Leaking it this way feels strategic on NYK's part. "Sorry, we're out, now Utah has to come to us with a reasonable offer." https://t.co/3WmvnopqBT
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) August 30, 2022
my SCALDING-HOT take: rj barrett is good, his extension is fine, and it in no way complicates donovan mitchell trade talks given the direction in which utah is headed.
— Dan Favale (@danfavale) August 30, 2022
Are we sure the Utah Jazz really wanted A) RJ Barrett in a potential Donovan Mitchell deal? & B) To be the team to pay Barrett a $100+ million rookie extension right away?
Seems to me the pathway to a Mitchell deal is very much on the table, but I'm a nobody.🤷♂️ #TakeNote
— Jake Hatch (Yawk) – Slava Ukraini (@JacobCHatch) August 30, 2022
Knicks: You can’t have RJ
Jazz: we don’t want RJ
Knicks: Sorry but RJ Barrett is off the table
Jazz: don’t want him, never wanted him
Article co-authored by Leon Rose: the Knicks braintrust will now have to do the impossible & figure out a Mitchell trade without RJ Barrett
— Real Hooper Pilled Trill (@TrillBroDude) August 30, 2022
Utah never wanted RJ Barrett bc they don’t want to pay him. Woj is funny
— year 20 (@johnrivers131) August 30, 2022
Since when was RJ Barrett is sticking point in a potential Donovan Mitchell trade??
I’m calling BS
Jazz want cheap talent and all the future draft picks from Knicks
— Ralph Mason (@Ralph_MasonJr) August 30, 2022
Source: The RJ Barrett extension does NOT impact the Knicks in their negotiations for Donovan Mitchell
(my source is common sense. The Jazz don't really want RJ because they want picks and not players who need to get paid soon, and the Knicks didn't want to trade him)
— Knicks Memes (@KnicksMemes) August 30, 2022
People plugged into Knicks (Stephen A, Begley, Berman) are all reporting the Jazz want Barrett. The ones plugged into the Jazz (Tony, Andy, Woj) have said the Jazz have no interest
Pretty obvious Leon Rose is leaking this to make it look like a huge win when they get to keep RJ
— Dunzo (@Dunzod) August 24, 2022
Is there anyone that thought Barrett was ever gonna be part of a Mitchell trade?
— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) August 30, 2022
Woj’s recent tweet is literally the most #KnicksForClicks thing I’ve ever seen. RJ Barrett was never going to be even involved in Donovan Mitchell trade discussions. Doesn’t change a thing.
— Max Wildstein (@MaxWildstein) August 30, 2022
