Barrett, Knicks close to deal as Mitchell talks fade

New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett is finalizing a four-year rookie extension that could possibly be price as much as $120 million, his agent Invoice Duffy of BDA Sports activities and WME Sports activities advised ESPN on Monday, complicating the franchise’s offseason commerce pursuit of Utah Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell.

Barrett’s deal — which makes him the youngest $100 million participant in Knicks historical past at 22 years outdated — ends a number of weeks of commerce discussions for Mitchell between New York and Utah, and forces the 2 organizations, in the event that they select, to begin over talks with considerably totally different issues due to the “poison tablet” provision now in Barrett’s deal.

New York president of basketball operations Leon Rose set a Monday night time deadline with Utah to achieve an settlement on a commerce for Mitchell or the Knicks would decide to the Barrett extension, sources mentioned.

Whereas the Jazz-Knicks commerce talks intensified and the hole on deal factors that included Barrett within the package deal tightened over the weekend and into Monday, there remained a gulf on reaching a commerce for Mitchell, sources mentioned. As soon as the Knicks and Jazz exhausted discussions Monday night time, Rose and Duffy finalized the extension eligible to gamers out of the 2019 NBA draft class.

Barrett’s deal ends a outstanding 23-year drought for the Knicks: He is the franchise’s first draft choose to comply with a multiyear contract extension after his rookie deal since Charlie Ward in 1999, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Data analysis.

Barrett averaged 20 factors, 5.8 rebounds and three assists for the Knicks a season in the past. He was the No. 3 general choose within the 2019 draft out of Duke, behind New Orleans’ Zion Williamson and Memphis’ Ja Morant.

Barrett is one among solely 5 gamers in NBA historical past to amass 3,000 factors, 1,000 rebounds and 200 3-pointers earlier than his twenty second birthday, becoming a member of Kobe Bryant, Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant and LeBron James.

The Knicks did embrace Barrett in commerce proposals for Mitchell, sources mentioned, which is why the method to finish the extension lasted a number of further weeks. Barrett was a staple of a number of totally different commerce variations mentioned, however hurdles remained Monday concerning the whole of unprotected first-round picks within the deal and the inclusion of Knicks guard Quentin Grimes, sources mentioned.

However, the Jazz vastly valued Barrett as a part of any Mitchell cope with New York, and a deal with out him would require the Knicks to relinquish much more draft belongings than they’ve proven a willingness to do, sources mentioned.

As soon as the Knicks dedicated to Barrett’s extension, administration turned resigned to the truth that there’s a way more tough path to an offseason deal to accumulate Mitchell. However, neither Utah or New York is ruling out restarting the talks earlier than the beginning of coaching camps in late September, sources mentioned.

The edges have been discussing a commerce on and off since early July. Out of the 179 gamers in NBA historical past who’ve had the poison tablet provision, just one — Devin Harris in 2008 — was moved.

For commerce functions, the poison tablet is computed with a formulation that may put the Knicks’ outgoing wage for a Barrett commerce at $10.9 million however require the incoming wage for a workforce buying him to be $26.2 million. The restriction might be lifted on July 1.

For Barrett to be included in a commerce to the Jazz, the Knicks would wish to discover a third workforce with salary-cap area to redirect Evan Fournier’s $37 million contract.

The Jazz aren’t critically engaged elsewhere on a Mitchell deal now, sources mentioned, which makes actual the likelihood that he might nonetheless be on the roster for the beginning of coaching camp.

The Jazz are dedicated to beginning a rebuild after buying and selling All-Star middle Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves for 5 first-round picks in July. Mitchell, 25, is a three-time All-Star and better New York native who would immediately develop into the franchise’s greatest participant.

ESPN Entrance-Workplace Insider Bobby Marks contributed to this report.