Just minutes before news broke of Donovan Mitchell being traded to the Cavaliers, the Knicks officially announced RJ Barrett’s contract extension, which was reported earlier this week to be a four-year deal.
Barrett, with Mitchell reportedly on the move to Cleveland, is now one of the centerpieces of New York’s continued rebuild under Leon Rose.
“We are thrilled to announce a well-deserved extension for RJ Barrett,” Rose said in a statement.” A core piece of our team’s foundation at only 22 years old, he has elevated his game each season, solidifying himself as a force on both ends of the court. We believe he will continue to improve because of his passion for the game and dedication to his craft.
“We want to continue to build our team and culture around players like RJ who possess these values and qualities.”
It was rumored that Barrett could still be a trade chip to acquire Mitchell, even after the contract extension, and that the Knicks offered him in a recent trade package. But now, it appears Barrett is here to stay.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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