The Knicks could have to watch their former star thrive with a bitter rival.
The New York Knicks are set to be one of the top title contenders next season, but they might have to see their former star thrive elsewhere.
Over the past few years, the Knicks have come out of a rebuild and emerged as a legitimate threat to win an NBA title. After making the Eastern Conference Finals last season and bringing in Mike Brown as their new head coach, the Knicks look poised to make a run to the conference finals or beyond again next year.
Many moves have led the Knicks to this point, including a deal that landed OG Anunoby in New York in 2024. Of course, to make that move happen, the Knicks had to part ways with a couple of fan favorites, including RJ Barrett.
Barrett has tried to carve out a role with the Raptors since arriving, but his best fit might be elsewhere. In a recent Bleacher Report article, Zach Buckley listed Barrett as one of the top 10 players on the trading block around the league.
Buckley also pegged Barrett’s ideal destination as Brooklyn. The Nets, of course, are the Knicks’ cross-town rivals. And anytime a former Knick ends up with the Nets, it can dominate the headlines.
Barrett’s time in New York was sometimes overshadowed by his struggles as a young player, but ultimately, the former No. 3 overall pick could be a key contributor for a winning team. Last season, he averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
While the Knicks are contending for a title and would be seeing Barrett four times a year in Toronto anyway, it might sting a little more for Knicks fans to see him thriving with another team in the city.
Category: Basketball
