1. RJ Barrett, Duke
Slash Line: .462/.328/.681
Stat Line: 23.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 2.1 3PM
Before Zion Williamson engulfed college basketball, RJ Barrett was seen as the nation’s top prospect. He arrived as the next Canadian star, and that’s still the case, but dimmed as his all-world teammate put on extraordinary manauevers which dominated SportsCenter.
Barrett is arguably this draft class’s best scorer, with the ability to slash to the hoop and score from all ranges. That’s feasible with above-average athleticism. 23.3 points per game only highlights this and that could grow due to Williamson’s knee injury.
Defensive upside event exists for the 6-foot-6 guard. A 6-foot-9 wingspan lets him cover players across the backcourt and as a three, providing versatility for any team he joins.
Like other backcourt prospects in 2019, however, there are outside shooting problems for Barrett. He manages just a 32.8 percent mark on them, on 6.3 attempts per game. A low free throw percentage also makes him unreliable from the charity stripe.
Barrett on the New York Knicks allows him to slide between a strong duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, pending they sign this summer. Kevin Knox as the stretch four can’t hurt, either. Add Mitchell Robinson at center, and this arguably offers the most intriguing scenario of any prospect not named Zion Williamson.
The New York Knicks have backcourt options to choose from in the 2019 NBA Draft, pending they target this position. Which player makes the most sense in June?