The New York Knicks and guard RJ Barrett are finalizing a four-year rookie contract extension that could potentially be worth up to $120 million, his agent Bill Duffy of BDA Sports and WME Sports said, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The 22-year old Barrett’s new contract makes him the youngest $100 million player in Knicks history, but also complicates the Knicks pursuit of Utah Jazz superstar guard Donovan Mitchell, with Barrett’s deal having a poison pill provision.
New York president of basketball operations Leon Rose set a Monday night deadline for the Jazz and Knicks to reach a deal for Mitchell, or the Knicks would go through with committing to a new contract with Barrett.
The Jazz and Knicks have seen intensified talks and getting close to a deal over the weekend, with Barrett included in a trade package, but a gap still remained between the two sides who exhausted discussions on Monday night.
With no trade being finalized, the Knicks moved on to the contract with Barrett.
Barrett averaged 20 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3 assists for the Knicks last season, and is one of only five players in NBA history to amass 3,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 200 3-pointers before his 22nd birthday.
